The US military announced the seizure of a second oil tanker linked to Venezuela today. The Panama-flagged supertanker, M/T Sophia, was captured in the Caribbean Sea during a pre-dawn operation on Wednesday, according to the US Southern Command. The vessel was engaged in illicit activities in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and is currently being escorted to the United States by the US Coast Guard.
Simultaneously, the US European Command reported the interception of a Russian-flagged vessel associated with Venezuelan oil in the North Atlantic. The vessel, previously known as Bella 1 and now named Marinera, was seized for violating US sanctions after being tracked for over two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean. The interception occurred in the waters between Iceland and Scotland, with US forces boarding the ship around 12 pm GMT. British forces, along with RAF aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce, supported the operation in the Atlantic.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey praised the UK Armed Forces for their role in assisting the US in intercepting the vessel Bella 1, emphasizing the importance of global efforts to combat sanctions violations. He described the Marinera as a “falsely flagged” vessel with a history of illicit activities and strong connections to Iran and Russia. He authorized the use of UK bases and deployment of RAF and Navy assets in support of the operation.
Both American and British surveillance aircraft have been monitoring the Marinera’s movements in the Atlantic in recent days. Russian media footage showed a helicopter near the vessel, which had been granted a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag on Christmas Eve after being previously registered in Guyana.
The Russian transport ministry asserted that no state has the right to use force against vessels registered in other jurisdictions under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. Ahead of the vessel’s seizure, a Kremlin adviser warned that such actions could strain relations between Russia and the US.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the tanker seizures, emphasizing the enforcement of US policies against illegal oil transportation. She noted that the president maintains good relationships with leaders of Russia and China but remains committed to enforcing embargoes on dark-fleet vessels engaged in illicit oil transportation.