Russia Says U.S. Seized Its Tanker, Not Venezuela’s

Following the seizure, Russian officials asserted that the Bella 1 was a Russian vessel, a claim that Washington has rejected.

Hours after announcing on his Truth Social account that Venezuela would be turning over «between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America», the Trump administration seized two oil tankers. One of the vessels, the M/T Sophia, was in the Caribbean Sea and was described by the Department of Homeland Security as a stateless, sanctioned “dark fleet” motor tanker. A second vessel, the M/V Bella 1, was also intercepted, according to U.S. European Command, after the United States had attempted to stop it weeks earlier but it escaped and continued north, passing along the UK coast. In a further escalation, Russia has since claimed ownership of the second tanker, adding an international dimension to the operation carried out in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. move against Venezuela.

U.S. Southern Command detailed the seizure of the M/T Sophia in a statement published on X, describing a coordinated early-morning operation involving multiple federal agencies. «In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident», the command said, adding that the vessel «was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea». According to the statement, the U.S. Coast Guard is escorting the Sophia to the United States «for final disposition». Framing the action as part of a broader regional campaign, Southern Command said the interdiction was carried out under «Operation Southern Spear» and reaffirmed that it was «unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere» and would «defend our Homeland and restore security and strength across the Americas».

U.S. European Command detailed the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 in a statement posted on X, confirming that the vessel is the same tanker now claimed by Russia and outlining a pursuit that unfolded over several weeks. «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 command said, adding that «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». According to CNN, the tanker had previously evaded an earlier U.S. interception attempt, continuing its voyage north and drawing heightened scrutiny as it moved through strategically sensitive waters. Following the seizure, Russian officials asserted that the Bella 1 was a Russian vessel, a claim that Washington has rejected, framing the case as a sanctions enforcement action backed by a federal court order rather than a dispute over sovereignty, and marking a further escalation in tensions surrounding U.S. efforts to police illicit oil shipments.

In the days following the military operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump used his Truth Social account to announce a major shift in U.S.–Venezuela energy relations, writing «I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America». He added that «This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!», and said he had asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute the plan immediately. Trump specified that the oil would be transported by storage ships and delivered directly to unloading docks in the United States, framing the move as part of Washington’s broader effort to assert control over Venezuelan oil flows in the aftermath of the intervention.