Click to see full-size image. (U.S. European Command)
The United States military on January 7 seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic, after pursuing it all the way from the Caribbean Sea.
In a statement, the U.S. European Command stated that the tanker was seized in coordination with the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
“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,” it said.
The seizure of the tanker supports President Donald Trump’s “proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere,” the command noted.
“The operation was executed by Department of Homeland Security components with support from the Department of War showcasing a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland,” it added.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed that the seizure of the vessel was related to the “blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil.”
The tanker, previously named the “Bella 1,” first came to attention last month when the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to seize it as it approached Venezuela. The crew declined to let the Americans on board at the time, and headed for the Atlantic. During the pursuit, the vessel changed its name and switched to the Russian flag.
Click to see full-size image. (U.S. European Command)
The United Kingdom provided support for the U.S. military during the seizure of the tanker, according to the British Ministry of Defence.
“RFA Tideforce is providing support for U.S. forces pursuing and interdicting the Bella 1, while the RAF (Royal Air Force) provided surveillance support from the air,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Russian Transport Ministry confirmed the seizure, saying in a statement that the tanker was boarded by U.S. military personnel “in the high seas outside the territorial waters of any state,” and that “contact with the vessel was lost.”
“On December 24, 2025, the Marinera received a temporary permit to fly the Russian flag, issued in accordance with Russian and international law,” the ministry stated, adding that the attack on the tanker came in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which ensures freedom of navigation in international waters.
From its side, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it has been “closely monitoring” the situation around the tanker.
Russian nationals are believed to be among the crew of the vessel, the ministry noted, urging the U.S. to ensure “humane and dignified treatment” of the captured sailors and to “allow them to return home as quickly as possible.”
Shortly after the seizure of the Marinera, the US Southern Command said it had seized another vessel in the Caribbean Sea, describing it as “a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker.”
“The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the U.S. for final disposition,” the command stated.
According to the TankerTrackers service, at the time of the seizure, the Sophia was transporting about 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan oil.
The seizure of the Marinera appear to be more related to the ongoing U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, than to attempts, led by Ukraine, to restrict Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed after the seizures that the U.S. is “about to execute on a deal” to take tens of millions of barrels of Venezuela’s oil and “sell it in the marketplace at market rates.”
Addressing the seizures, he said that the Venezuelan government wanted the oil from one of the tankers “to be part of this deal.” He was likely referring to the Sophia.
“They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they cooperate and work with the United States,” Rubio told reporters, describing the deal as a result of the US’ oil “quarantine.”
“We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil. We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting. That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime,” he said.
“We have a leverage to move on the stabilization front,” he added.
Despite U.S. attempts to justify the seizure of the Marinera by linking the tanker to Venezuela, the move could have serious consequences, especially on ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The little trust built in recent months could be all lost.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
damn traitors!
i feel no sympathy when these fuckers are lit up.
putin / russia will make their move when / if there is an advantage to be had.
russians are pussies who are afraid of jewmerica. they will never do anything except bow down.
even russia must bow to american jurisdiction. putin won’t do anything, which makes him worse than all the others who america picks on. they couldn’t fight back, but putin just rolls over and tucks is little russian tail between his legs.
thats because russia only have 2 allies ( the army and the air force), the navy due the admirals incompetence has turned into a joke.
russia is controlled by jews too. putin is one of them.
no how many times do you need to be told that the world is run by the rule of law.? can’t you even grasp the most basic fact of the matter?
“i don’t care what the un says, watch as rubio attacks maguro, dismisses un… you tube.
of course, they are the source to nazi germany, they have use “un” for to mass murder in the hospitals.
are you stupid for real ? kidnapping, pirates, trick movies, genocide, mass murder in the hospitals. its the “laws” of nazi germany, and “us”. you will have one hour left, if einstein was not a fraud, and mr putin start a cheap leasing out of his suitcase.
exactly right. if it’s a democracy it is most likely controlled by zionists. all permanent members of the u.n. are zionists.
representative democracy was created to empower antichrist zionism.
if you love democracy then you have accepted the mark of the beast.
israel is the antichrist.
john 11:48
cue the pedo brigade keyboard warriors. i wonder how many will have jobs when iran is done with them? i wonder how how many will be left at all? hopefully, none. notice the us only goes after unarmed civilian vessels. that is the chicken shit brigade at work. see what happens if there is a row boat with a rpg, they’ll run like the cackling chickens they are. tough ice killers kills old women on the street. yea tramp.
yea, and as chicken shit as america is, russia is still to pussy to confront them.
yes, ice gestapo shoot her three times in the face. adolf trump have let loose sadistic personality, for to terrorize the population. its like a replay of nazi germany.
now putin says this might worsen relations. what a stupid piece of shit, boot licking moron. i bet putin swallows everything.
where is the gold. 122 ton gold where is ? which tanker loaded with gold.
nah.. full of venezuelan criollo.criollo chocolate. some of the best in the world. thats why tanker raised russian flag!
but english maritime law grants them the legal right to privateer .brittanua rules the waves.
as is obvious, the seizure signals a reversion to the international brigandage of the golden age of european imperialism. obviously the humiliation of russia is intended, with certainty that it will be extended. sending one or two tu-95s to try and prevent a boarding so that naval forces could arrive would have seemed a worthwhile effort. however, trump’s imperialism threatens europe just as much as it threatens a blockade of an insufficiently servile russia.
lavrov will issue a strongly worded statement
oh yeees, that is something they fear and respect…
what a total load of crap you’re so transparent, the three of you working harder than ever before in your life’s amusing really.
europe should break free from the financier of adolf hitler rothschild, instigator of the war in ukraine, and destroyer of north stream. russia was perfectly right about the local reasons for the conflict. but root causes 😂 the only logic left are that they left the empire to die in its own stench and spasms. they should kill it instead.
i support russia’s smo, but remember when trump said russia is a paper tiger, well now trump is trying to show his point. so will russia now just bend over and take it without vaseline? come on putin, show some back bone. venezuela is getting looted and you just talk about condemnation, now you yourself are getting looted, wtf
international waters lawfully protect per international treaties. the us ignores any and all international laws. a rouge state
might makes right
the use of nukes brings peace.
putin can’t do that, hard to spend the usd if you blow up the usa
he’s on blockchainn and crypto cbdcs. i’ve been watching they re cunning on social media i’ve seen them shopping and buying but never paying. somehow thaf step gets missed.
when i.r. iran gets them, they will leave them alone.
worked in japan.
no. there have not be any peace since then. its because the towns was burned with napalm, and the world was scared by “nukes”, for to enable free mass murder. einstein was a extremely sick “jew”, nazi. a fraud, according to pdf files waiting in my storage. japan had capitulated anyhow, it was directed against ussr. crime against humanity. but why dont burn all “us” cities, that should actually work.
that is basically a definition of a rogue state.
venezuala yes. iran pisdibke very soon till pavlovas back.
but here’s more bubble gum busters for you
“great honour” trump speaks with colombian president ” you tube.
it have not be anything else since 1492.
our country has been captured by neocons and zionists. is it any wonder that we have become israel..?
you should be so plucky ducky. you ain’t got half the nerve.
yeah the usa s selling drugs to venezuala killing them by the thousands every week.
no they don’t they did under bush clinton out of mensa airport but to americans too. allegedly. but england legalised piracy to counter spains murderous plunderings of the south anericas. they started, the democrats, drugging their own in the 1960s with vietnam as their drug supply. allegedly
it will be a blessing when the old russian boomer retires to the gorbachev apartment
russia = good weapons, reckless&brave soldiers and terrible generals, admirals and strategists
yes that’s right yesterday before trump tipped over your little red wagon in drug central putin was a hero how you’ve changed your tune now
russia needs a much stronger leader than pootin
ramazan kadirov. not a kitten.
send in vanya she’s tough as old boots.
its increasingly obvious now that pootin is being told what to do or not do, any other national leader would have taken action by now
putin none transparent closed door meetings and close private phone calls created minks agreement and of all of assad now muduro
the minsk agreement is dead. ukraine never followed it
no shit sherlock?
it was not a agreement, it was a deception. they have never listen to the old indian chiefs in russia, its actually somewhat disgusting.
all this, e v e r y t h i n g started with that agreement with turkgay over syria.
no. it started when the globalists decided they were entitled to the universe.
then you can choice between 1000 years ago, 33000 years ago, or 2 million years ago, because humans have get fouled many times.
unsc never make action pens it only listen criticize and create alternatives for accusers without action. unsc is suppose to force all countries to stop immediate trade with usa and charge it with treason.
the us created the united nations and the treaties that protect seizing ships in foreign waters. the international criminal court is the us created enforcement arm for un security council mandates and treaties. not that the us or israel cares anymore.
pigs arse the rockefellers started it with the lucifer trust, which they changed to the lucis trust andcchqnfedcitsxname from the league of nations to the united nations where the only church represented is the vatican.
prophet sadhur said usa should vote for right candidate for god to safe us for another four years. then election were rigged and biden won and safe usa for another 4 years.biden never spoke or threaten with ww3.it was only trump and the reality show has begun
all us elections are only popularity contests where the same result from either party. if harris had won, nothing would be different. delayed ? maybe.
amerikunts are dumber than wood. they think they are free. free to be dumb assholes with zero awareness
just as dumb as the rest. the same crap (chaubis&etc.) is running the shop no matter which economic zone you look at.
take a look in the mirror
hahaha just proofing how little you know there’s no way kamal. would have stopped maduros rogue state and she would never do this
.
donald trump just pulled the united states out of un linked migration group in bold steps”… you tube. there’s no way she would have implemented zero trance at the birders deoyed ice agents to deport illegals imposed tariffs or done anything except accelerate the invasion by illegals.. sink america into more debt and devastate the society with criminality. imo
sadghuru s very talented. he s a big influencer on social media’s rather like baghwan orange clockwork before.
if putin would wanted to protect this oil tanker he could have send his submarines long time ago.before moduro capture.his plays the game knowing trump will release secret phone conversation transcripts.
speculations fascinating usually.
this ship may have gold that the us seeks to steal. new eastern outlook ( available in russian language ) covers all these action by policy analysis. i suggest the sf staff read it.
the us is deep in debt. china holds much of the bonds that keep the dollar afloat. for now.
china has less than 5% of us debt dumbass.
if china dumps all t-bills at once the dollar will fold
they dumped most of it already, they aren’t stupid as the (((russians))) to leave 100s of billions in enemy banks when it is obvious a war is about to start
russians are just dumb. you can’t blame cattle for being stupid. they are just like that.
you’d know.
wake up if america goes down economically then china’s sunk americas their number one customer
grow up you’re about 3 months behind
it’s not that simple. because the black markets are really the biggest market. and the whole world’s been in it evince especially the spanish murdered montezuma and stole their gold and england from port royal, started privateering that’ is they made piracy legal for themselves under the jolly roger flag.
the spanish were murdering thieves of billions in gold the catholics qe1 was an heretic, a bastard who the pope said should be murdered as a good deed, so her navy robbed them. etcera. etcera earlier around 1450s the pope gave everyone else’s lands to spain and portugal because he talked directly to god and by law still then was infallible
expected from us inferior immoral americunt species—we are incompetent cannot compete so we must steal cheat lie cuz we are primitive ugly dumb peasants that submissively swallow hebrew jizz
u.s. seizes ru ssian tanker, the reason is u.s intelligence has info that in the ship there are a lot of venezuela g old and mo ney. and this ship is sm uggling g old and mo ney to ru ssia. the ship is full to the brim with g old and mo ney. german newspapers share this title today.maduro s gold in the tanker.
on reflection, trump’s seizure of the russian tanker would seem to give such a bully a powerful lever to force putin to accept whatever “peace” deal trump might choose to impose – or i seize all your shipping. to add cream to the cake, trump can then sell himself to nato as the ukraine’s and their saviour, having done so he’ll take greenland, thank you very much for that ….. benefitting trump corporation, not ordinary people, a class trump has robbed so successfully in the past.
i’d nuke a fucker that was stealing my ships
yeah, right.
i would have started a war over the first sanctions against russian arms sales, that was a direct interference with russian sovereignty and russian defense
the more the weak one allows the more the strong will take
then the americans killed 200 russians in syria, putin said he didn’t care because they were wagner private company, what a mensch.
then the americans blew up the russian-german pipe lines, putin said he didn’t care because they belonged to private companies and were insured.
lets not forget all the nonsense that has been going on in the ukraine, why was the coup in 2014 ignored? why was strelkov demonized? why was the russian army downsized right after the coup, it was obvious there was going to be a war, that isn’t the time to “reform” the military by downsizing it. what in the world is going on?
you wouldn’t get it even if you were told. it would be a waste of time.
turds took down the plane, isisreals took tu avacs down, and ru came up with bs explanation that kid wouldn’t believe. they need good whack back.
maduro-grenland-tanker…for how long this midget in moscow will tolerate humiliations?
look at you lot all turncoats typical imo
yes you would have and by now tens of millions would be dead and half of europe in ruins.
do not care. blow “us” from the surface. its nothing wrong in extinct the population in north america, they have them self done it before. the problem are that “nukes” are a hoax, and that russia have become schizofrenic, foul people about a multipolar world, but all we get are oceania, eurasia, eastasia. three versions of nazi germany, that do not defend small countrys, or them self. the only positive are that “us” become seen as the bandit mafia it is.
would ya? russians can keep playing around kupyansk for another year or two. now this orange guy have turn the tide and show to all who russia really is – a weak and soft dumb femmy bear.
we know ramses would kill everyone kill them all i hate the world etcera spontaneous human combustion would be too good for you
moscow rolls over and plays dead every single time
nothing but straight up cowards
what an offensive despicable thing to say. just deplorable.
russia can’t let this go or they may as well give up,the russian sub in the area should sink the us escort ship and drop some spetsnaz onto the tanker.
at least sink the tanker
but then again the tired one can’t even blow up some bridges to save russian civilians lives, can’t upset macron and the partners
we’re very lucky putins in charge and not any of the three stooges here you’d have the whole place descended into hell in about half an hour.
gaza are already hell, its time they which are so happy about genocide of the jews share the experience.
usa humiliates russia again!!!
heheheh
if russia does nothing, the escalation and piracy will continue. at what point must putin the fool understand that being a nice guy to sociopaths is not doing him any favors. they only respect force. i despise the ussa and israel, but the inaction of the global south is not doing them any good. zionists only want to humiliate and oppress. if you want to end up like arab cowards who worship their dirty boots, go right ahead……
totally true and confirmed
the us fleet was there for weeks at this point anyone still trading with venezuela was an idiot.
as for russia they should just sell with a go fetch your stuff policy and make the buyers of their
stuff do something to get their oil and gas. if not russia is the most self sufficient nation on the planet.
its china that needs the trade over the sea so they should protect it.
pathetic deplorable naivettes aren’t credible
agree. a world with mass murderers in the hospitals needs to be cleaned.
russia should give the british junta what it desires and sink the ‘shadow’ fleet tanker in british waters.
usn/nato just insured that maritime assets are now armed merchantmen and/or convoy protected.
next step being direct war and european ports blockaded and subsea communication lines between u.s. and europe cut.
why what is different now, the sweedes, estonians, finns, and lithunians steal russian ships all the time, why would it be any different when the (((americans))) do it?
the ship in sweden was hold over night. it had probably machine breakdown, and the swedes acted similar to ancient times, when they lit fires, for to get ships to run ashore, and get chrushed against the cliffs. nice country.
marinera could use some manpads (along with some paint)
the usa should just make a law that any oil trade done without us profit is illegal.
and the rest of the world can then pay tribute to the don of earth.
call it the magadonroe doctrine.
rusko a čína sa musia konečne dohodnúť a spoločnými silami musia zastaviť toto pirátstvo. darebácky štát usa kradne cudzie a nik ho nepotrestá? to kde žijeme? myslím, že ak by potopili aspoň jedno plavidlo usa, ktoré by sa podieľalo na takomto pirátskom akte bol by pokoj okamžite. mysleniu zdar a svetu mier.
russia is a weak cowardly zionist lapdog but all its arse lacking won’t save it. putin is a retard.
heheh, russian leaders are weakend totally, they are just endlessly wishing that the us will help or even listen to their wimpering, but at every turn the us and europe and nato are putting the pressure on russia financially, militarily. time is running out before russia will be a total pariah state like cuba and north korea and cut off from the world.
“russia is isolated” has been debunked as lousy western propaganda
there are only two paria state on earth, and it is “us” and “israel”, both committing genocide. blow them from the surface, any more that come up with the biblical concept of genocide, blow them from the surface. it is only in your morbid fantasy that cuba and north korea are paria. it is you who is paria, and the earth should get liberated from your kind. pleasure killers from hell.
russians are a migthy powerfull allies what a comedy they are