U.S. Seize Russian-Flagged Tanker in North Atlantic, Linked to Maduro Regime

U.S. authorities have seized two “stateless” oil tankers in “two pre-dawn operations” in the North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, according to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

The Motor Tanker (MT) Sophia was boarded by special operators attached to the U.S. Coast Guard in the South Caribbean, and is currently being escorted to be docked at a shipping facility in the United States. The U.S. Southern Command announced on X that the operation was carried out on a “dark fleet motor tanker” that was “operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea.”

The second tanker, M/T Bella 1, a Russian-flagged vessel that had been evading U.S. authorities for multiple weeks after departing the Venezuelan coast in early January, later turned off its transponder to avoid detection. The vessel was then renamed Marinera and was reportedly carrying oil to China.

Moscow condemned recent U.S. actions in Latin America as violations of international law. The Kremlin vowed to strengthen relations with Caracas in December 2011, committing to support the Maduro regime in the face of mounting pressure by the United States. Almost a month later, U.S. forces launched an assault on the Venezuelan capital and captured the now deposed leader of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.

In response to the U.S. surveillance of M/T Bella 1, Russia deployed a submarine to interdict the Bella 1, renamed Marinera, and escort the tanker back to Russia.

Following the U.S.-led seizure of the Bella 1 during the early morning hours of Jan. 7, which was carried out with British partner forces in the RAF (Royal Air Force) near Scotland, the Kremlin demanded the U.S. issue the “prompt return” of Russian citizens onboard.

Russian military assets that were reportedly escorting the Bella 1 to Russia, including a Russian submarine, were in the vicinity of the operation but did not engage, according to reports.

A fleet of ghost ships sanctioned by U.S. authorities, distributing sanctioned oil products from Venezuela to U.S. adversaries in Russia, China, and Iran, has managed to elude the United States government for years. However, officials in Washington now assert that operations like the ones carried out on Wednesday will be meant to “disrupt the funding of narco terrorism” in Latin America.

With Venezuela’s interim government under acting President Delcy Rodríguez, the United States intends to apply “massive leverage” on Venezuela to sever ties with Venezuela’s traditional allies in Russia, Iran, and Cuba since the rise of Hugo Chávez in the early 2000s.

When speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been tasked with overseeing the Venezuelan transition government, stated:

“They understand the only way to move oil and generate revenue, and not collapse, is if they [Venezuelan authorities] cooperate with the United States. That’s what will happen.”