**Washington D.C.** – In a dramatic escalation of its campaign to cripple Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy, United States forces have intercepted two oil tankers, one of which was flying a Russian flag, in separate operations spanning the Atlantic and the Caribbean. The audacious seizures, aimed at enforcing sanctions against Caracas, mark a significant and potentially combustible development in international maritime law and geopolitical tensions.
The operation against the Russian-flagged tanker, identified as the Marinera, concluded after a pursuit lasting nearly two weeks. US airborne troops executed helicopter landings on the vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, situated between Iceland and Scotland, to take control. This manoeuvre was reportedly facilitated by logistical support from the UK's Royal Navy, underscoring a multilateral dimension to the US enforcement efforts. Concurrently, in a pre-dawn raid, US Coast Guard units intercepted the tanker M/T Sophia in the Caribbean, another vessel implicated in Venezuelan oil shipments.
The White House has asserted that the Marinera was operating under a "Venezuelan shadow fleet" designation, allegedly having been rendered stateless after flying a deceptive ensign, and was subject to a judicial decree. These actions are explicitly part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to exert maximum pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government by severing its vital oil export revenue streams. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth unequivocally stated, "The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT – anywhere in the world," reinforcing the administration's resolve.
The implications of seizing a vessel under the Russian flag are profound. Moscow has vociferously condemned the interception, demanding the immediate release and proper treatment of its citizens aboard the Marinera. The Russian Federation’s transport and foreign ministries have called for an explanation and underscored the potential for diplomatic fallout. This incident risks igniting a direct confrontation between the US and Russia, a nation with which relations are already severely strained.
The US objective, as articulated by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, is to “enforce all sanctions,” signalling an intent to impose what it describes as a “complete blockade” on any vessel found to be transporting oil for the Venezuelan government. The seizure of the M/T Sophia, while less diplomatically charged, is equally significant in its contribution to this overarching strategy. These actions represent an unusual and high-stakes gambit, designed to starve the Maduro regime of its primary source of foreign currency and thereby compel a change in its policies or leadership. The long-term ramifications for global shipping, international maritime protocols, and the delicate balance of power between major global actors remain to be seen.