Wednesday, January 7, 2026: The United States has seized a second oil tanker linked to Venezuelan crude exports in what it described as “back-to-back” maritime operations across the North Atlantic and the Caribbean, sharply escalating efforts to cut off revenue streams to Caracas.
The first vessel, the Russian-flagged Marinera, was boarded after a pursuit lasting nearly two weeks as it transited waters between Iceland and Scotland. The operation received logistical support from the UK Royal Navy, according to statements from both governments, underscoring growing transatlantic coordination on sanctions enforcement.
A second tanker, the M/T Sophia, was intercepted in the Caribbean and accused by US authorities of conducting illicit activity connected to Venezuela’s oil trade.
The seizures come as Washington intensifies pressure on Venezuela’s energy sector, a strategy that has featured prominently in recent geopolitical coverage on Sauce.co.ke amid widening global energy tensions.
US Says Operations Target ‘Illicit’ Venezuelan Oil Trade
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the actions were part of an ongoing global crackdown on sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments.
“The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect—anywhere in the world,” Hegseth wrote on X, signalling that similar operations could follow.
The move follows days after US special forces carried out a dramatic operation in Caracas that resulted in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a development that has reshaped diplomatic calculations across Latin America and beyond.
Russia Condemns Boarding of Flagged Vessel
Moscow swiftly condemned the seizure of the Marinera, demanding that Russian nationals aboard the tanker be treated properly and allowed to return home.
Russia’s transport ministry said the vessel had been granted temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag and insisted that no country had the right to use force against ships legally registered under another state’s jurisdiction.
Reports circulating in international media suggested Russia may have dispatched a submarine to monitor the situation, though US officials said the boarding occurred without resistance. The White House described the Marinera as part of a Venezuelan “shadow fleet” and said it had been deemed stateless after allegedly flying false flags.
UK Confirms Military Support for US Operation
Britain’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that UK forces assisted the US operation following a formal request. Assets included RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval support vessel RFA Tideforce.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the operation complied fully with international law and formed part of wider efforts to curb sanctions-busting, particularly involving oil shipments linked to Iran and Venezuela.
The US European Command later confirmed that the vessel—previously known as Bella 1—was seized under a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Munro.
Legal Questions Over ‘Stateless’ Vessels
According to maritime experts cited by BBC Verify, the tanker could not legally change its flag mid-voyage unless ownership or registry had formally changed. US officials said the vessel had falsely flown the flag of Guyana in recent weeks, rendering it stateless under international maritime law.
Under United Nations maritime conventions, stateless vessels may be boarded by foreign authorities, a point US officials have relied on to justify the operation.
Images released by Russian state broadcaster RT showed a helicopter hovering near a vessel believed to be the Marinera, formerly registered as Bella 1, with its listed home port in Sochi on Russia’s Black Sea coast.
Second Tanker Intercepted in Caribbean
Separately, the US Southern Command announced the seizure of the M/T Sophia in international waters in the Caribbean Sea. The vessel was described as part of a “dark fleet” operating to evade sanctions.
“The interdicted vessel was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities,” the command said, adding that the US Coast Guard is escorting the tanker to the United States for final disposition.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard carried out “two pre-dawn, meticulously coordinated” boarding operations involving vessels either last docked in Venezuela or en route there.
Venezuela Signals Co-operation on Second Seizure
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela’s leadership was cooperating with Washington over the Caribbean seizure, framing it as an economic necessity.
“They understand the only way to move oil and avoid economic collapse is to co-operate with the United States,” Rubio told reporters.
Earlier, President Donald Trump said Venezuela would hand over up to 50 million barrels of oil, valued at roughly $2.8 billion, to the US. Rubio later told lawmakers that the oil would be sold on the open market, with proceeds controlled by Washington and distributed in a manner intended to benefit Venezuelans.
He said the administration’s plan for Venezuela focused on stabilisation, recovery, and eventual political transition.
Lawmakers Question Scope of US Involvement
However, the widening operation has prompted concern in Congress. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers needed clarity on the scale, duration, and cost of US involvement.
While many Republicans backed the administration’s actions, others raised constitutional questions. The Senate is expected to vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at limiting prolonged military engagement without congressional approval.
“If there is continued engagement, it must be subject to war powers,” said North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley added that operations involving a foreign head of state raise different legal thresholds than law-enforcement actions.
China Warns of Energy Market Impact
China, which has been Venezuela’s largest oil buyer in recent years, condemned the seizures and accused the US of threatening global energy security, adding another layer of tension to an already volatile geopolitical environment.
With enforcement actions expanding across multiple oceans, analysts warn the confrontation over Venezuelan oil could have lasting implications for global shipping, energy prices, and international law—an evolving story closely tracked on Sauce.co.ke’s global affairs desk.
