US seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic and 2nd tanker
The U.S. on Wednesday seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, including the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker formerly known as the Bella-1 that had evaded a U.S. blockade back in December.
The Marinera was transiting in the North Atlantic, according to three sources familiar with the operation. The operation was being carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard and other military assets, according to one source. Russian military vessels were in the area as the situation unfolded.
In a post on X, U.S. European Command confirmed the seizure of the tanker in the North Atlantic.
The U.S. on Wednesday also seized another tanker in the Caribbean, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
"In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two 'ghost fleet' tanker ships -- one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean," Noem said in a post on X. "Both vessels -- the Motor Tanker Bella 1 and the Motor [Tanker] Sophia -- were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it."
The U.S. Coast Guard had been tracking the Marinera tanker for the last two weeks after attempting to seize it on Dec. 20 when the empty ship was in the Caribbean and apparently headed to Venezuela.
On Dec. 31, the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping listed the ship -- with the new name of Marinera -- as a Russian vessel. The ship's crew also painted a Russian flag on the ship's side.
The Bella-1 previously flew a false Panamanian flag and is suspected to be part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," which Moscow is accused of using to evade international sanctions.
The ship recently activated its transponder, allowing open-source maritime tracking websites to locate the ship as being in the North Atlantic Ocean close to Iceland and the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom issued a statement saying it supported the U.S. seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker.
The Russian Ministry of Transport condemned the seizure of the oil tanker in the North Atlantic in a statement on Wednesday.
"U.S. naval forces boarded the vessel in international waters outside the territorial waters of any state, and contact with the vessel was lost," the statement read. The ministry added, "No state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked at a press briefing on Wednesday if the tanker seizure risked a larger conflict with Russia. She said the tanker was a "Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel" and "deemed stateless."
"This was a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil. The vessel was deemed stateless after flying a false flag and it had a judicial seizure order. And that's why the crew will be subject to prosecution," she told reporters.
President Donald Trump in December announced what he called a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers in and out Venezuela. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday posted the "blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT -- anywhere in the world."
"The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people. Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce -- as determined by the U.S. -- will be permitted," Hegseth posted to X.
Trump announced on Tuesday night that Venezuela will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S. Sources told ABC News that those barrels represent the first tranche to be handed over to U.S. control.
The Trump administration intends to oversee the sale of Venezuela's oil indefinitely and some sanctions against Venezuela will be lifted, two sources familiar with the plan told ABC News.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio touted the "tremendous leverage and control" the United States now exerts over Venezuela's oil industry and suggested Venezuela wants the oil captured in the Caribbean on Wednesday by U.S. forces to be a part of its export deal with the administration.
"We are in the midst right now, and in fact, about to execute on a deal to take all the oil. They have oil that is stuck in Venezuela. They can't move it because of our quarantine and because it's sanctioned. We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil," Rubio told reporters after a classified briefing with senators on Capitol Hill.
"They want that oil that was seized to be part of this deal. They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they cooperate and work with the United States. And that's what we see are going to happen," Rubio said.
ABC News' Mariam Khan and Rachel Scott contributed to this report.
