US Captures Russian-Flagged Tanker After Weeks-Long Atlantic Chase, Tensions With Moscow Spike

Russia Oil Tanker Seized: In a dramatic escalation on the high seas, the United States has seized two oil tankers, Marinera and Sofia, as part of its crackdown on Venezuelan oil exports. The operation follows a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic and marks one of the most aggressive US maritime enforcement actions in recent years. According to US officials, Marinera, a Russian-flagged tanker originally known as Bella One, had been sanctioned in 2024 for operating as part of a “shadow fleet” transporting illicit oil linked to Iran and Venezuela. The vessel allegedly went dark mid-voyage, changed its name and flag, and attempted to evade tracking, even as it was reportedly shadowed by a Russian submarine. #USRussia #OilTanker #NorthSea #Sanctions #MaritimeSecurity #GlobalPolitics #Russia #UnitedStates #NDTVWorld #BreakingGround