Two tankers connected to Venezuelan oil exports have reportedly been apprehended by the US in “back-to-back” operations in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. The Russian-flagged Marinera was pursued for nearly two weeks as it passed through the waters between Iceland and Scotland before US forces boarded it. Air and sea logistics support was provided by the UK Royal Navy.
The United States accused a second tanker, the M/T Sophia, of conducting illicit activities and boarded it in the Caribbean. The actions come only days after the US’s special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a lightning raid on his Caracas home, and as the US attempts to stifle the majority of Venezuela’s crude oil shipments.
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defence, stated on X that “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 another state’s territory.
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