In a significant escalation of maritime tensions, the United States has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, one of which was flying a Russian flag at the time of its capture.
The first vessel, the M/V Marinera (reportedly empty of oil), was intercepted in the North Atlantic between Iceland and the United Kingdom. According to reports, the U.S. Coast Guard had been pursuing the ship for several weeks after it fled the Venezuelan coast. During the pursuit, the tanker attempted to evade capture by changing its name and raising the Russian flag. Although a Russian support fleet, including submarines, was reportedly en route to protect the vessel, U.S. forces successfully boarded and seized it before the reinforcement arrived.
The second tanker, which was carrying a cargo of oil under a Cameroonian flag, was captured in the Caribbean Sea and is currently being escorted to a U.S. port. This operation is part of a broader “shadow fleet” blockade initiated by President Donald Trump in December 2025, aimed at pressuring the Venezuelan government to comply with U.S. energy terms. Russia has fiercely condemned the seizure of the Marinera, with its Ministry of Transport calling it a violation of international law and asserting that no nation has the right to use force against a vessel duly registered under another country’s jurisdiction. The operation was significantly bolstered by British intelligence and military support, with the UK Ministry of Defence confirming that its aircraft assisted U.S. forces in tracking and securing the Russian-flagged ship.
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