The US government has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker connected to Venezuela after tracking the vessel across the Atlantic Ocean. This operation was confirmed through a social media update from the US European Command.
Originally named Bella 1, the tanker was sanctioned earlier this year for participating in a shadow fleet of ships involved in the illicit transportation of oil. News agency Reuters first reported the seizure, citing sources who confirmed the US Coast Guard and military executed the operation.
Efforts to intercept the tanker began near Venezuelan waters last month, but the crew evaded capture by steering the ship away from US forces. Despite this, the US persisted in monitoring the vessel as it traveled northeast, deploying P-8 surveillance aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in England to track its movements for several days.
During the pursuit, the tanker’s crew painted a Russian flag on its hull, declaring it sailed under Russian protection. Subsequently, the ship was registered officially in Russia under a new name, Marinera. Russia lodged a diplomatic request demanding the US halt its pursuit, complicating the legality of the seizure.
US officials, however, consider the tanker stateless because they do not recognize the Russian claim. Two sources familiar with the matter emphasized that the US maintains this stance regardless of Russia’s registration on the ship’s name.
To support the seizure, the US repositioned various military assets to the UK, including at least 12 C-17 transport aircraft landing at Fairford and Lakenheath airbases within a few days. Many of these aircraft originated from bases within the United States.
Additional assets involved in the operation included V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft conducting training missions out of Fairford air base and two AC-130 gunships arriving at Mildenhall base in the UK. This buildup of military presence underscored the importance of the interdiction mission.
The US has a precedent for utilizing Special Operations Forces to interdict sanctioned tankers. On a recent occasion in December, US forces supported a Coast Guard mission to seize the Skipper, a very large crude carrier falsely flying the flag of Guyana near Venezuelan waters.
Last month, former President Donald Trump announced a “complete blockade” targeting sanctioned oil tankers attempting to enter or exit Venezuela. This measure was part of a broader effort to pressure the regime of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s then-leader.
In a significant development earlier this month, Venezuelan President Maduro was captured by US forces in Caracas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will continue enforcing the blockade, using it as leverage over the Venezuelan interim government.
The seizure of the Marinera tanker marks a critical escalation in US efforts to disrupt sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments. This incident highlights the complexities of maritime law and geopolitical maneuvering involving Venezuela and Russia.
Read more at: www.cnn.com-
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