Russia has dispatched naval assets to escort an oil tanker currently being tracked by US forces across the Atlantic, CBS News reported, in a story shared in partnership with BBC.
The vessel, which is currently empty, has a history of transporting Venezuelan crude and was reportedly located between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday.
Last month, former US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a “blockade” on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move Caracas described as “theft.” Ahead of the US operation to seize Venezuela’s former leader Nicolás Maduro over the weekend, Trump had accused the Venezuelan government of using ships to transport drugs to the United States.
In the Caribbean last month, the US Coast Guard attempted to board the tanker then named Bella 1, which was accused of violating US sanctions by carrying Iranian oil. The vessel avoided seizure by changing course and later rebranding itself as Marinera, reportedly reflagging from Guyana to Russia.
The ship’s movement toward Europe coincides with the deployment of approximately 10 US military transport aircraft and helicopters to the region. Russia has expressed that it is “monitoring with concern” the situation surrounding the vessel.
Two US officials told CBS News that Washington intends to seize the ship rather than sink it and is preparing to board if necessary. The US Southern Command stated on social media on Tuesday:
“Our sea services are vigilant, agile, and postured to track vessels of interest. When the call comes, we will be there. We remain ready to support our US government agency partners in standing against sanctioned vessels transiting this region.”
Tracking data suggests that the Marinera was between Scotland and Iceland overnight Tuesday, though rough weather and distance pose challenges for any boarding attempt. International protocols would require the US to inform the UK before conducting military operations from British territory, though the UK Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on foreign military activities in its waters.
US officials indicated that any operation could resemble last month’s seizure of The Skipper, a large crude tanker flagged in Guyana, which US Marines, special forces, and the Coast Guard successfully intercepted after it departed Venezuela.
Under international law, a vessel is protected by the country whose flag it flies. However, maritime analysts, including Dimitris Ampatzidis of Kpler, note that renaming or reflagging a ship does not prevent enforcement actions. US authorities rely on the vessel’s IMO number, ownership structure, and sanction history rather than its visible markings. Ampatzidis said changing to a Russian flag may spark diplomatic tensions but would not block US action.
Russia’s foreign ministry defended the tanker’s presence in international waters, stating:
“Our vessel is sailing under the Russian Federation flag in full compliance with international maritime law. It is unclear why the US and NATO are giving disproportionate attention to a peaceful ship. We expect Western nations, which claim to uphold freedom of navigation, to respect this principle.”
The developing standoff follows the high-profile US seizure of Maduro from Caracas over the weekend, an operation that involved airstrikes on suspected weapons and drug locations in the Venezuelan capital.
