The United States is attempting to seize an oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a more than two-week pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean, according to multiple reports. The vessel, originally named Bella 1 and now known as Marinera, has been tracked by the US Coast Guard and military as part of enforcement actions against ships tied to sanctioned oil flows.
US officials told Reuters that the Coast Guard and US military are conducting the operation, which comes amid a broader push to enforce sanctions on vessels suspected of carrying crude for the Venezuelan regime and associated networks.
Russian state media reported that a helicopter, believed to be carrying US forces, is attempting to land on the tanker as part of the effort to gain control of the ship. Russia has also deployed a submarine and other naval assets to escort the vessel, heightening the risk of a geopolitical standoff at sea.
The tanker avoided an earlier attempt by the US Coast Guard to board it off Venezuela in December. At that time, the crew refused to allow boarding and the ship slipped into international waters. It later changed its name to Marinera and was registered under the Russian flag, an action that complicates legal efforts to seize it. Under international maritime law, ships flying a nation’s flag are generally accorded that country’s protection.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia’s submarine and surface vessels have been positioned to accompany the tanker as it sails north toward European waters. Moscow has formally protested the US pursuit and called for Washington to halt its actions, saying the vessel is now under legitimate Russian registry.
US officials also indicated that another interception of a Venezuela-linked vessel may be underway in Latin American waters. The situation highlights growing tensions between Washington and Moscow over energy sanctions and maritime enforcement, just days after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a separate operation.
