The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker, the Marinera (formerly Bella-1), in the North Atlantic after a two-week pursuit, enforcing sanctions linked to Venezuela’s oil trade. US European Command said the vessel had evaded a US naval blockade of Venezuela before changing course south of Iceland toward Britain. The tanker had recently reflagged from Guyana to Russia and was reportedly escorted by Russian naval assets, including a submarine, according to The Telegraph. The operation was carried out by the US Coast Guard with military support, underscoring Washington’s claim that its blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil applies worldwide and intensifying tensions with Moscow. They write:

The United States has seized ⁠a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a two-week pursuit.

The US European Command said the sanctioned vessel had slipped through a ‍US naval blockade of Venezuela. […]

The ⁠operation to capture the ship was carried ‌out by ⁠the ‍US Coast Guard and military, officials said. […]

Pete Hegseth, moments after the US seized a Russian flagged vessel that had escaped the blockade, said: “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world,” he wrote on social media. […]

The US operation to seize the Russian-flagged oil tanker was carried out with Russian naval assets nearby, according to US officials.

Two officials told Reuters that the Russian ships and a submarine were in the “general vicinity” when the mission was taking place. […]

Mr Trump has made it clear that South America now falls squarely within Washington’s sphere of influence under his so-called “Donroe Doctrine”, a muscular update of the 19th century Monroe Doctrine asserting US primacy in the Western hemisphere.

By re-flagging a vessel attempting to breach the US blockade of Venezuela, Putin had attempted to challenge that Doctrine — and Mr Trump did not like it one bit. Personal warmth counted for little. In a blunt display of raw power, it appears the United States is emerging decisively on top.

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