U.S. seizure of Russian-flagged oil tanker escalates tensions amid Venezuela oil crackdown

The seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker by the United States military in the North Atlantic has intensified diplomatic and security tensions between Washington and Moscow, as President Donald Trump moves to tighten enforcement of a targeted oil embargo linked to Venezuela.

The vessel, Bella-1, was boarded around 7 a.m. EST in a joint U.S.–U.K. military operation while sailing in international waters between Scotland and Iceland. Reports indicated the tanker was operating under a Russian flag and was allegedly escorted by a Russian submarine at the time of the interception.

Russia swiftly condemned the action. In a statement on Wednesday, Russia’s transport ministry said, “No state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” warning that the operation could set a dangerous precedent.

U.S. lawmakers also voiced concerns about the broader implications of the seizure. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) said the incident raises serious questions about the potential for escalation. “There are a lot of questions about whether this seizure may raise the prospect of hostilities beyond what’s happened already,” he told reporters.

The Bella-1 is believed to be part of a so-called “dark fleet” of tankers used by sanctioned states to evade international restrictions and keep oil flowing through opaque channels. Russia has been a key ally of Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, and both countries have relied heavily on such networks to move oil despite sanctions.

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U.S. authorities began tracking the Bella-1 in mid-December as part of a broader campaign to disrupt shipments of sanctioned Venezuelan crude. Moscow confirmed that the vessel began flying the Russian flag on December 24, during the U.S. pursuit.

Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Tom Shannon, described the seizure as a dramatic signal of Washington’s resolve.

“It shows the administration’s commitment to blocking black market oil shipments from Venezuela,” Shannon said during an appearance on CNN. However, he cautioned that the move risks confrontation with Russia, as well as China, Iran and other actors benefiting from illicit oil trade.

Shannon added that the participation of the United Kingdom was significant. “The role the U.K. has played, and the role others will play, is important in creating greater transparency in global oil and gas flows,” he said.

The Bella-1 operation marked the fourth tanker seized by the U.S. in recent months. Earlier on Wednesday, American forces also boarded a sanctioned tanker near the Caribbean, underscoring an increasingly aggressive enforcement posture.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to directly address whether the seizure could trigger a broader conflict with Russia. She said the crew of the Bella-1 may face prosecution in the United States and confirmed that the vessel is now under U.S. escort pending “final disposition.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement carried by the state-owned Tass news agency, urged Washington to ensure the “humane and dignified treatment” of Russian citizens aboard the tanker.

Analysts said its route could have taken it around Scandinavia to a Russian Arctic port. U.S. authorities reportedly ignored Moscow’s request to halt pursuit after Russia claimed protection over the vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard initially stopped the tanker on December 20 as it headed toward the Caribbean, citing a seizure warrant. However, the vessel refused boarding and sailed away, prompting an expanded military response that included a Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and AC-130 gunships.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation demonstrated that the U.S. blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil “remains in full effect—anywhere in the world.”

Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) argued that targeting the global dark fleet serves broader U.S. strategic interests. “Crippling the movement of this oil will not only weaken the oppressive Venezuelan regime, it will also squeeze Russia’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine,” he said.

Similarly, Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) last week urged the administration to expand seizures to include tankers carrying Russian oil, saying such steps would enjoy bipartisan support and help curb funding for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.

“The depth of our defence relationship with the U.S. is essential to our security,” Healey said, adding that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of close transatlantic military cooperation.