In a dramatic escalation of tensions on the high seas, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered a naval escort for a sanctioned Venezuelan oil tanker racing toward Russia. This move comes as American and British forces mobilize to intercept the vessel, setting the stage for a potential confrontation in the Atlantic Ocean.
High-Stakes Chase in the Atlantic
The vessel at the centre of the crisis is the ageing tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1. It is accused of being part of a "shadow fleet" used to evade international sanctions and transport illicit oil. The ship, believed to be of Iranian origin and previously operating under Guyanese and Panamanian flags, has now switched to a Russian flag.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal citing U.S. officials, Russia has deployed naval assets, including a submarine, to shield the tanker as it heads toward Moscow. The Kremlin, however, claims the vessel is "not carrying anything illegal" and stated it is merely "monitoring the situation with concern" without fully confirming the escort mission.
The Marinera recently slipped away from what former U.S. President Donald Trump termed a "total and complete blockade" of Venezuelan oil shipments last December. It reappeared about 500 miles west of Ireland after a failed U.S. Coast Guard boarding attempt in the Caribbean, where it was suspected of carrying Iranian oil for Venezuela.
US and UK Forces on High Alert
In response, surveillance and military activity by the United States and United Kingdom have intensified significantly. Flight-tracking data shows a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was dispatched toward the tanker's last known coordinates, supported by refuelling aircraft.
RAF Typhoon jets and U.S. reconnaissance planes have also been spotted operating near the vessel's suspected route. In a clear sign of preparation for direct action, U.S. cargo aircraft carrying special forces helicopters have arrived at RAF Fairford in England.
A U.S. defence source acknowledged the visible buildup, stating, "You can’t really hide what is happening. There is credible open-source reporting of a surge of U.S. activity at RAF Fairford." The source added that troops were "staging" for a potential hostile seizure of the vessel.
Implications of a Potential Seizure
U.S. officials told CBS News that Washington's preference is to seize the Marinera rather than sink it. While "final approval has not yet been given," one official indicated the operation could happen "as soon as this week." This would mirror a helicopter-borne assault on another sanctioned tanker last month.
The chase underscores Washington's tightening pressure on Venezuela's oil exports, the country's main economic lifeline. Since Trump's blockade announcement, more than a dozen tankers are said to have fled using deceptive tactics like falsified tracking data and operating in "dark mode."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the blockade as "one of the largest in modern history," warning it is paralyzing the Maduro regime's ability to raise cash. If U.S. forces successfully capture the Marinera, it would become the third Venezuelan-linked oil tanker seized since September, likely inflaming the volatile standoff between Washington, Moscow, and Caracas even further.
