US Seizes Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker in Atlantic Amid Sanctions Push

The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a weeks-long pursuit across the North Atlantic, in a significant escalation of efforts to enforce sanctions on Venezuelan crude and disrupt illicit oil trade, officials said on Wednesday. The vessel, renamed *Marinera* and formerly known as *Bella-1*, was intercepted by US Coast Guard units and military forces following nearly two weeks of tracking in the Atlantic Ocean. The tanker had switched to Russia’s flag after previously resisting boarding and was suspected of violating US sanctions by transporting Venezuelan oil. At the time of the seizure, the tanker was reported to be empty. The operation was supported by Britain’s Royal Air Force and a Royal Navy vessel, underscoring international cooperation in enforcement efforts. Russian naval assets, including at least one submarine, were reported to have been operating near the scene during the operation, heightening geopolitical tension. Moscow condemned the seizure, calling it a violation of international maritime law and denouncing the action as unlawful. The seizure comes amid an intensified US campaign to clamp down on shipments of Venezuelan crude that Washington alleges are being used to finance instability and evade sanctions. In recent weeks, US forces also intercepted a Panama-flagged tanker, *M Sophia*, in the Caribbean on similar grounds, marking multiple high-profile interdictions. Pentagon and White House officials have framed the moves as part of broader efforts to enforce US law and national security interests, while critics — including China and Russia — have accused the United States of coercive tactics and of undermining established maritime norms.