Photo: U.S. military European Command
The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday (January 7) following a pursuit that lasted more than two weeks and spanned the Atlantic Ocean as part of a "blockade" on Venezuelan oil imports, two U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters.
The incident is the first in recent memory in which the U.S. military seized a Russian-flagged vessel. The operation was launched after the Bella-1 slipped through a U.S. maritime blockade in the Caribbean and rejected U.S. Coast Guard efforts to board it.
The U.S. military's European Command announced that the oil tanker was seized for violating U.S. sanctions.
"The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro," the European Command wrote. "This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere. The operation was executed by DHS components with support from @DeptofWar, showcasing a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland."
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a reply to the post stating, "The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world."
Officials who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity said the operation was carried out by the Coast Guard and U.S. military.