WILLEMSTAD — U.S. forces have seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil after a weeks-long pursuit through the North Atlantic, marking a dramatic escalation in maritime tensions involving Washington and Moscow, international news agencies report.
The oil tanker, originally known as Bella-1 and later renamed Marinera, was intercepted by U.S. military and Coast Guard units in the North Atlantic near Iceland on Wednesday. The operation was carried out under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after authorities tracked the vessel for more than two weeks for alleged violations of American sanctions.
Long Trans-Atlantic Pursuit
U.S. officials said the Marinera sailed into international waters after evading an attempted U.S. Coast Guard boarding off the coast of Venezuela last month. The tanker was part of a so-called “shadow fleet” — older vessels used to transport oil from sanctioned nations, including Venezuela, Russia and Iran, often in defiance of international tracking protocols.
During its flight across the Atlantic, the Marinera changed its registration and identity, reappearing under the Russian flag. Russian naval vessels, including a submarine, were reported to be in the general vicinity as the U.S. tracked the ship — a move widely seen as a protective gesture toward the tanker.
Despite the presence of Russian naval assets nearby, there were no reported armed confrontations as the U.S. forces executed the seizure. The U.S. military operation involved multiple agencies, coordinated through the U.S. European Command, with support from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense.
Russia’s Response and Accusations
Russia’s official state media and diplomatic channels criticized the U.S. action, saying Moscow was monitoring the situation closely and that the tanker was operating under the Russian flag in accordance with maritime law. The deployment of a submarine and other naval vessels to shadow the Marinera was interpreted as a direct challenge to U.S. enforcement efforts, though Russian authorities stopped short of a direct confrontation.
The incident follows a period of heightened U.S. action against oil shipments believed to be linked to Venezuela’s state oil sector and its allies. In late 2025, the U.S. expanded a naval blockade of sanctioned tankers as part of Operation Southern Spear, which has sought to curb the flow of Venezuelan crude and enforce economic pressure on the Maduro government.
Broader Context
The seizure comes amid wider geopolitical tensions, following the controversial U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in early January — an operation that drew international reactions and criticism. The ongoing enforcement actions against sanctioned vessels represent a continuation of U.S. strategy to tighten economic pressure through maritime interdictions.
In addition to the Marinera, U.S. forces have reportedly intercepted other sanctioned tankers operating in the Caribbean and Atlantic, demonstrating the breadth of maritime enforcement efforts.
Implications
Analysts say the case could have far-reaching implications for international maritime law, energy markets and geopolitical relations between major powers. Russia’s dispatch of naval assets in response to U.S. pursuit underscores the risk of potential escalation when naval operations intersect with competing strategic interests.
For Curaçao and other Caribbean islands heavily impacted by Venezuelan oil trade dynamics, developments on the high seas add another layer of complexity to an already fraught regional environment. The broader consequences for energy security and regional stability remain uncertain as events continue to unfold.