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U.S. military says Russian-flagged oil tanker seized in North Atlantic
U.S. military says Russian-flagged oil tanker seized in North Atlantic; Moscow demands ‘humane’ treatment of crew members
The United States military on Wednesday (January 7, 2026) announced the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, in the North Atlantic for sanctions violations, bringing an end to a multi-week pursuit by American forces.
The seizure of the ship, which evaded being boarded near Venezuela, was a joint operation between the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. military personnel, the U.S. European Command, which is responsible for the region, said in a post on X.
The military command went on to say that the seizure supported President Donald Trump's proclamation on targeting sanctioned vessels that “threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere.”
The ship was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December as it headed for Venezuela. The ship refused boarding and headed across the Atlantic.
Officials added that Russian military vessels were in the general vicinity of the operation, including a Russian submarine. It was unclear how close the vessels were to the operation, which was taking place close to Iceland.
Britain provided support to the United States in its operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, the Ministry of Defence said
The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of
the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro. pic.twitter.com/bm5KcCK30X
Russia said on Wednesday (January 7) that the U.S. seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic was a violation of maritime law, and a senior lawmaker described it as “outright piracy”.
Russia's Transport Ministry said contact with the vessel, the Marinera, had been lost after U.S. naval forces boarded it near Iceland as part of efforts to block oil exports from Venezuela.
“In accordance with the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russia is demanding that the United States ensure humane and decent treatment of the Russian crew members and their swift return home, state news agency TASS quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying.
The U.S. Coast Guard first attempted to intercept the vessel last month, but it refused to be boarded. Since then, it has registered under a Russian flag.
The tanker, now known as the Marinera, is the latest tanker targeted by the U.S. Coast Guard since the start of U.S. President Donald Trump's pressure campaign against Venezuela.
Separately, the U.S. Coast Guard has also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker in Latin American waters, U.S. officials told Reuters, as the U.S. continues enforcing a maritime “blockade” of sanctioned vessels from Venezuela.
The moves come just days after U.S. special forces swooped into Caracas before dawn on Saturday (January 3) in a deadly raid to seize President Nicolas Maduro and take him to the United States. The U.S. military turned him over to federal authorities for prosecution on charges involving alleged drug trafficking.
Top Venezuelan officials have called Mr. Maduro's capture a kidnapping and have accused the U.S. of trying to steal the country's vast oil reserves, estimated to be the largest in the world.
In turn, Mr. Trump and top U.S. officials have accused Venezuela of stealing U.S. oil, in an apparent reference to the country's nationalisation of its energy sector in several waves over the past half-century.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (January 6) unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that had been stuck in Venezuela under U.S. blockade, in a further sign that Washington is coordinating with the Venezuelan government since capturing President Nicolas Maduro in a raid last weekend.
(with inputs from Reuters, AFP and AP)
Published - January 07, 2026 05:39 pm IST
oil and gas - upstream activities / Russia / USA
Source: TheHindu
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