The United States has launched an operation to seize a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after it evaded a partial blockade off Venezuela, US and international media reported Wednesday.
US officials say the vessel, renamed the Marinera and formerly known as Bella 1, is part of a so‑called “shadow fleet” used to transport oil for countries including Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of US sanctions.
Tracking data showed the tanker nearing Iceland’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday as the military‑led operation unfolded.
The pursuit comes after the vessel successfully thwarted a US Coast Guard boarding attempt near Venezuela in late December and subsequently changed its registration to Russia, with crew reportedly painting a Russian flag on its hull to avoid seizure.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it was “following with concern” the US action, asserting that the ship was operating under the Russian flag in international waters and decrying the heightened attention from US and NATO forces as disproportionate.
The latest escalation is part of a broader US effort to enforce sanctions on oil shipments linked to sanctioned networks and to pressure the Venezuelan government, which Washington accuses of facilitating illicit trade.
The Marinera had been under US sanctions since 2024 for its alleged involvement in transporting cargo tied to sanctioned entities.
AFP
