Two “shadow fleet” vessels connected to Venezuelan oil are seized by the US

Between “back-to-back” operations between the North Atlantic and the Caribbean, the United States claims to have apprehended two vessels connected to Venezuelan oil exports. After nearly two weeks of chase, US forces boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera as it passed through the waters between Scotland and Iceland. By air and sea, the UK Royal Navy provided logistical support.

The United States accused the M/T Sophia, a second tanker, of “conducting illicit activities” and boarded it in the Caribbean. Just days after US special forces apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a lightning raid on his Caracas home, the United States is attempting to stifle the majority of Venezuelan crude oil shipments.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X: “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT – anywhere in the world.” Moscow has protested the arrest of the tanker flying its flag and requested that the US treat the Russians on board fairly and allow them to return to Russia as soon as possible.

The transport ministry stated that it had granted the ship “temporary permission” to fly the Russian flag and that no state had the authority to use force against ships that were legally registered in the territory of another state. It appears that US forces were able to board the tanker without encountering any opposition, despite reports that Russia sent a submarine to protect the ship.

The White House described the ship as a “Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel deemed stateless after flying a false flag and had a judicial order” against it. Venezuela’s leadership is co-operating with the US on the second tanker seized in the Caribbean, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they co-operate and work with the United States,” he told reporters.

Venezuela, which has the greatest proven oil reserves in the world, “will be turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil worth about $2.8 billion (£2.1 billion) to the US, according to earlier statements made by US President Donald Trump. Rubio stated that the US will sell Venezuelan oil “in the marketplace at market rates” and would manage the distribution of the earnings “in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people” during his briefing to US senators on the ongoing operation in Venezuela on Wednesday.

He said that the administration was “not just winging it” and that the US had a thoughtful strategy for Venezuela’s future. According to Rubio, the Trump administration’s strategy for Venezuela was to stabilize, recover, and then transition.