High Seas Tension: U.S. Attempts Seizure of Russian-Tanker in Global Oil Power Play

In a rare move, U.S. forces pursued a Russian-flagged oil tanker attempting to bypass sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports, marking a tense standoff in international waters. This operation reflects escalating geopolitical tensions over Venezuela's vast oil reserves, as the U.S. seeks to restrict the flow of Venezuelan oil to global markets.

The United States initiated a rare military maneuver on Wednesday, aiming to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker involved in circumventing American sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports. Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously to Reuters, disclosed the high-seas pursuit that lasted over two weeks across the Atlantic, with a Russian submarine reportedly shadowing the tanker.

The intercept operation, targeting the vessel originally named Bella-1, unfolded near Iceland under the banner of a U.S. maritime blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan exports. Despite initial resistance from the tanker, now called Marinera and registered under the Russian flag, the U.S. Coast Guard and military pressed forward with the effort amid nearby Russian military presence.

This attempt comes amid broader U.S. strategies to secure Venezuelan oil supplies, casting a spotlight on the international dispute over the world's largest oil reserves. With political tensions mounting, the U.S. has pursued negotiations to reroute $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to America, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)