Russia has accused Washington of violating maritime law after the US military seized a Russian-flagged, Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean. The operation comes days after US forces abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Russia had reportedly sent its navy to escort the tanker, which the US says violated sanctions. The US also says it has seized a second “stateless” oil tanker it accuses of operating as part of Venezuela’s “dark fleet”.
Why US seized Bella 1 and Sophia tankers and what it means for Venezuela
The United States has seized two oil tankers, the Bella 1 and the Sophia, in the North Atlantic and Caribbean for violating US sanctions against Venezuela
This undated handout photo released by the US European Command shows what it says is the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 oil tanker in the northern Atlantic Ocean | AFP
The United States’ European Command has seized two sanctioned Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean, authorities said on Wednesday.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that US forces have taken control of the tanker Sophia in the Caribbean. Earlier, US defence authorities announced they have seized the merchant vessel Bella 1 for violating US sanctions. According to Noem, both ships were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it.
Ukrainians were the first to intercept the Russian tankers.
Ukraine Hit Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers, Undermining Moscow’s Sanctions-Evasion Fleet
ByDavid Kirichenko,Contributor. David Kirichenko is a journalist focusing on war and technology.Follow Author
Nov 30, 2025, 09:57pm ESTNov 30, 2025, 11:58pm EST
Ukrainian Sea Baby naval drones struck two Russian oil tankers operating in international waters off Turkey’s Black Sea coast on November 28, marking a significant expansion of Kyiv’s maritime drone campaign targeting the Kremlin’s oil revenue.
Venezuela live updates: Rubio says Venezuela is cooperating on oil seized from tanker
Some sanctions against Venezuela will be lifted.
7:25
US seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic and 2nd tankerABC News’ Luis Martinez and contributor Steve Hill discuss the operations in the North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.
Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife appeared in a federal court in New York City on Monday, following their capture by U.S. forces over the weekend in a military operation in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
Following the operation, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela for an unspecified “period of time.”
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim leader to lead the country after what the Venezuelan Supreme Court described as Maduro’s “kidnapping.”
Retired, living in the Scottish Borders after living most of my life in cities in England. I can now indulge my interest in all aspects of living close to nature in a wild landscape. I live on what was once the Iapetus Ocean which took millions of years to travel from the Southern Hemisphere to here in the Northern Hemisphere. That set me thinking and questioning and seeking answers.
In 1998 I co-wrote Millennium Countdown (US)/ A Business Guide to the Year 2000 (UK) see https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn/9780749427917
![Government supporters participate in a women's march toward the office of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, January 6, 2026. [Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-07T071240Z_2084582686_RC2VVIAIT38S_RTRMADP_3_USA-VENEZUELA-MARCH-1767795284.jpg?resize=730%2C410&quality=80)
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