U.S. Seizes Russian Oil Tanker Amid Efforts to Control Venezuelan Crude

Bella 1 Seized for Violating U.S. Sanctions
Russia Urges Repatriation of Russian Nationals

The United States has used military force to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic between Iceland and the United Kingdom.

The oil tanker Marinera photographed in the Singapore Strait. Photo by AFP Yonhap News Agency

On January 7 (local time), the United States European Command announced on X that "the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Department of Defense, have seized the vessel Bella 1 for violating U.S. sanctions."

The announcement further explained that the Bella 1 was "seized in the North Atlantic under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro."

According to Reuters, the United States had been tracking the Bella 1 for more than two weeks since December 21, after the vessel attempted to evade boarding and fled.

This oil tanker departed from Iran and attempted to enter Venezuela to load Venezuelan crude oil. After being detected by the U.S. Coast Guard, it painted a Russian flag on its hull, registered under the Russian flag, and changed its name to Marinera in an attempt to avoid detection.

The seized Bella 1 is part of the so-called "shadow fleet," a group of vessels that have been illegally transporting Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan crude oil in violation of international sanctions. The United States has been conducting tanker seizure operations since President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the seizure during a briefing, stating, "The vessel is part of Venezuela's shadow fleet and was transporting sanctioned crude oil."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) assessed that this seizure further strengthens President Trump's pledge to take control of Venezuela's oil industry.

The Russian Ministry of Transport protested the U.S. seizure of the Marinera oil tanker, stating, "No country has the right to use force against a vessel that is officially registered under another country's jurisdiction."

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is "closely monitoring reports that the U.S. military boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera" and urged the United States to "treat Russian crew members humanely and ensure their prompt return to their homeland."