The US military confirmed the seizure of a second oil tanker with ties to Venezuela today. The Panama-flagged supertanker, M/T Sophia, was apprehended in the Caribbean Sea during a pre-dawn operation on Wednesday, according to the US Southern Command. The vessel was engaged in illicit activities in international waters. The US Coast Guard is currently escorting the tanker to the United States.
In a separate operation earlier today, the US European Command announced the capture of a Russian-flagged vessel, the Marinera, in the North Atlantic. The ship, previously known as Bella 1, was seized for allegedly violating US sanctions after being tracked for over two weeks while traveling towards Russia. The interception took place between Iceland and Scotland, with US forces boarding the ship around 12pm GMT, as confirmed by the Russian transport ministry.
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that British forces, along with RAF aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce, supported the operation in the Atlantic. Defence Secretary John Healey commended the UK Armed Forces for their role in assisting the successful interception of the vessel, emphasizing the global effort to combat sanctions violations.
Describing the Marinera as a “falsely flagged” vessel that defied US demands, Healey highlighted the ship’s history of illicit activities and its connections to Iran and Russia. He authorized the deployment of RAF and Navy assets to support the US operation, clarifying that no UK personnel participated in boarding the vessel.
Both American and British surveillance aircraft have been monitoring the Marinera’s movements in the Atlantic. Footage from Russian media showed a helicopter near the vessel, which had been granted a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag on Christmas Eve, having previously been registered in Guyana.
The Russian transport ministry asserted that no state has the authority to use force against vessels registered under other jurisdictions, citing the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. Russian officials warned that any aggression towards the Marinera would be considered an attack on Russia, potentially escalating tensions between the US and Russia.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the tanker seizures, emphasizing President Trump’s commitment to enforcing policies that protect US interests. She clarified that the operations were aimed at upholding the embargo on dark-fleet vessels involved in illegal oil transportation, maintaining that the US would continue to prioritize its national security and economic stability.