{{short description|none}} {{redirect|Skipper (ship)|the American minesweeper|USS Skipper{{!}}USS ''Skipper''}}{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{use American English|date= December 2025}} {{Infobox military operation | name = 2025–2026 United States oil blockade of Venezuela | partof = Operation Southern Spear and US military buildup in the Caribbean | image = United States military personnel boarding the oil tanker Skipper.webm | image_upright = 1.2 | alt = A video taken from a helicopter depicting American military personnel seizing the oil tanker Skipper | caption = A video of the seizure of ''Skipper'' published by United States attorney general Pam Bondi on X | scope = | type = Ship seizure | location = Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela | coordinates = | map_type = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_label = | planned_by = {{flag|United States}} | commanded_by = | objective = | target = Sanctioned oil tankers trading in and out of Venezuela | date = {{start date|2025|12|10}} − present<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=12|day1=10|year1=2025}}) | time = | timezone = | executed_by = {{Tree list}} * {{flagicon image|Flag of the United States Department of Homeland Security.svg}} United States Department of Homeland Security ** {{flag|United States Coast Guard}} *** Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) * {{flag|United States Navy}} * {{flag|United States Marines}} ** {{flagicon image|22nd meu large insignia.jpg}} 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) * {{flag|United States Army}} **13px 1st SFOD-D ** 13px 160th SOAR(A) * '''Supported by:''' * {{flag|United Kingdom}}{{efn|name=fn1|''Marinera'' (''Bella 1'') seizure.}} ** {{navy|United Kingdom}} ** {{air force|United Kingdom}} {{tree list/end}} | outcome = 10 oil tankers intercepted by the United States<ref name=NYT5Jan2026/><ref name=WSJ7Jan2026/> | casualties = None }}
As part of Operation Southern Spear, the United States enacted a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers traveling in and out of Venezuela on 17 December 2025, after placing additional sanctions affecting oil trade with the country. A week before announcing the blockade, the US seized the oil tanker ''Skipper'' in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela on 10 December, and then focused its military efforts on intercepting and pursuing other tankers trading with Venezuela. On 7 January 2026, the United States boarded and seized the Russian oil tanker ''Marinera'' (formerly ''Bella 1'') in the Atlantic near Iceland and the Panama-flagged M ''Sophia'' in the Caribbean Sea.
''Skipper'' had been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury in 2022 for alleged involvement in an oil trafficking shadow fleet of vessels involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah. ''Marinera'' and ''Sophia'' had also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department.
The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure of ''Skipper'', describing it as an "act of international piracy".<ref name=CBS10Dec/> UN Security Council members urged restraint and some UN representatives condemned the naval blockade, and analysts said US actions tested maritime law.
== Background == {{further|United States–Venezuela relations}} On 7 August 2025, the United States Department of Justice raised a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to US$50 million; Maduro was indicted by a US federal court in 2020 and is accused of narcoterrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/07/trump-venezuela-maduro-arrest-bounty|title=Trump Administration Doubles Reward for Arrest of Venezuela's President to $50M|language=en|date=7 August 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=The Guardian|first1=Sam|last1=Levin}}</ref><ref name=APVenezuelaPiracy/> The Trump administration accuses the Maduro government of flooding the US with drugs, and has pressured Maduro to step down.<ref name=ReutersQuarantine/><ref name=ReutersUN23Dec/> Over the following months, the United States Navy conducted its largest naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.<ref name=Guardian10Dec>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast|title=Venezuela Decries 'Act of Piracy' After US Forces Seize Oil Tanker Off Country's Coast|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=The Guardian|first1=Tom|last1=Phillips|first2=Andrew|last2=Roth}}</ref> As a part of the naval deployment, the US began launching air strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea in September. By 10 December, the United States had carried out 22 air strikes that killed at least 87 people.<ref name=TheHill10Dec>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5643306-us-venezuela-war-fears/|title=Lawmakers React to US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=The Hill|first1=Max|last1=Rego}}</ref>
The Venezuelan economy is heavily reliant on oil exports. Venezuelan oil is extracted and exported by Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the state-owned oil company. Oil production has significantly decreased since the early 2000s due to corruption, PDVSA mismanagement, and sanctions implemented on the country by the United States.<ref name=NYT10Dec>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/politics/oil-tanker-seized-us-venezuela-trump.html|title=U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast, Escalating Pressure on Maduro|date=10 December 2025|work=The New York Times|first1=Tyler|last1=Pager|first2=Eric|last2=Schmitt|first3=Nicholas|last3=Nehamas|id= {{ProQuest|3281208044}} |access-date=1 January 2026}}</ref> In March 2025, United States president Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14245 that placed a 25% tariff on any country that imported Venezuelan oil due to Venezuela being "very hostile".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/us/politics/trump-tariffs-venezuela-oil.html|title=Trump to Impose Tariffs Against Countries that Buy Venezuelan Oil|language=en|date=24 March 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=The New York Times|first1=Ana|last1=Swanson|first2=Rebecca F.|last2=Elliott|first3=Alan|last3=Rappeport|name-list-style=amp}}</ref> In August, Venezuelan defense minister Vladimir Padrino López announced that the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela would be deployed to protect Venezuela's main oil hub.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/50db68c8-59d2-4a2a-b2c3-7c8c88237763|title=US Naval Build-Up Near Venezuela Stokes Tensions in Latin America|language=en|date=28 August 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=Financial Times|first1=Steff|last1=Chávez|first2=Michael|last2=Stott|first3=Joe|last3=Daniels|name-list-style=amp|location=Washington, D.C., Rio de Janeiro, and Bogotá|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Maduro said in October 2025 that the US wanted to seize Venezuela's oil and that the Bolivarian Army of Venezuela had been mobilized to repel a land invasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/venezuela-military-movement-militia-c59ca9ef?|title=Venezuela Mobilizes Troops and Militias as U.S. Military Looms Offshore|language=en|date=16 October 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=The Wall Street Journal|first1=Juan|last1=Forero|first2=Kejal|last2=Vyas|first3=José|last3=de Córdoba|first4=Lara|last4=Seligman|name-list-style=amp|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
The Russian tanker ''Seahorse'', sanctioned by the European Union and the UK, attempting to deliver naphtha (a product necessary to help export Venezuela's heavy crude) to Venezuela was forced several times by {{USS|Stockdale|DDG-106|6}} to turn back towards Cuba,<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. warship cuts path of Russian tanker on its way to Venezuela|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/nov/21/us-warship-cuts-path-of-russian-tanker-on-its-way-/|work= The Spokesman-Review|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date= 21 November 2025|access-date=21 November 2025}}</ref> although it eventually reached Venezuela in November 2025.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Amira |last1=El-Fekki |date=25 November 2025|title=Russian oil tanker evades US navy to reach Venezuela|url=https://www.newsweek.com/russian-oil-tanker-evades-us-navy-venezuela-maduro-seahorse-11105094|work=Newsweek|access-date=26 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Gary|last1=Dixon|date= 24 November 2025|title=Sanctioned tanker reaches Venezuela after dodging US destroyer|url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/tankers/sanctioned-tanker-reaches-venezuela-after-dodging-us-destroyer/2-1-1905744|work= TradeWinds|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref>
== Interdiction activity == === ''Skipper'' (''Adisa'') === ''Skipper'', previously named ''Adisa'' (IMO number 9304667), is owned by Triton Navigation Corp., based in the Marshall Islands<ref name=CBS10Dec>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-we-know-oil-tanker-the-skipper-seized-us-near-venezuela/|title=What We Know About The Skipper, the Oil Tanker Seized by the U.S. Near Venezuela|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|publisher=CBS News|first1=Jennifer|last1=Jacobs|first2=James|last2=LaPorta|first3=Richard|last3=Escobedo|first4=Eleanor|last4=Watson|first5=Nick|last5=Kurtz|first6=Nicole|last6=Sganga|first7=Joe|last7=Walsh|name-list-style=amp}}</ref><ref name=Pltc>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/us-seizes-venezuelan-oil-tanker-00685289|title=US Seizes Cuba-Bound Venezuelan Oil Tanker, Ramping up Pressure on Maduro|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=Politico|first1=Eric|last1=Bazail-Eimil|first2=James|last2=Bikales|name-list-style=amp}}</ref><ref name=USTreas3Nov2022>{{cite press release|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1076|title=Treasury Sanctions Oil Shipping Network Supporting IRGC-QF and Hizballah|date=3 November 2022|access-date=10 December 2025|publisher=United States Department of the Treasury}}</ref> and operated by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LaRocco |first=Lori Ann |date=11 December 2025 |title='Spoof' ship: Seized oil tanker Skipper hid location data, visited Iran and Venezuela |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/11/us-venezuela-iran-oil-tanker-skipper-trump.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref> At 310,309 DWT, it was built by Imabari Shipbuilding at Saijō, Ehime, Japan, in 2005 as yard number 2507, named ''Toyo'' and managed by the Japanese NYK Line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toyo |url=https://www.miramarshipindex.nz/ship/9304667 |publisher=Miramar Ship Index |access-date=16 December 2025}}</ref> The supertanker is a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), making it too large for some ports.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Jonathan |last1=Saul|first2=Marianna |last2=Parraga|first3=Arathy |last3=Somasekhar|title=Supertanker Skipper seized by US near Venezuela is heading to Houston, sources say|date= 12 December 2025|publisher=Reuters|access-date=21 December 2025|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/supertanker-skipper-seized-by-us-near-venezuela-is-heading-houston-sources-say-2025-12-12/}}</ref>
In November 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury placed sanctions against ''Adisa'', for allegedly being involved in an oil smuggling network that financed both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah.<ref name=CBS10Dec/><ref name=USTreas3Nov2022/> The network was led by a Ukrainian citizen living in Switzerland, Viktor Sergiyovitch Artemov, who was sanctioned by Office of Foreign Assets Control.<ref name=WAPO11Dec2025>{{Cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Samantha |last2=Viser |first2=Matt |last3=DeYoung |first3=Karen |last4=Kelly |first4=Meg |date=11 December 2025 |title=U.S. seizes 'very large' oil tanker off Venezuelan coast, Trump says |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/10/venezuela-oil-tanker-seizure/ |access-date= 1 January 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |id={{ProQuest|3281121146}} }}</ref> Artemov was a Russian oil magnate and was accused by the US of coordinating a global Iranian "oil smuggling network" with the help of Triton Navigation.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cheetham |first1=Joshua |last2=Brown |first2=Paul |last3=Irvine-Brown |first3=Richard |last4=Murphy |first4=Matt |date=11 December 2025 |title=From Iran to China to Venezuela - how seized tanker hid location |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8jvll9j81o |access-date= 12 January 2026|work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
According to a ''New York Times'' analysis of satellite imagery and data from TankerTrackers.com, ''Skipper'' issued false transponder readings from October to December 2025 that falsified the ship's location. TankerTrackers.com co-founder Samir Madani referred to ''Skipper'' as being part of a "global dark fleet" of tankers that falsify their location information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/politics/oil-tanker-venezuela-tracking-data.html|title=Oil Tanker U.S. Seized Has Faked Its Location Before, Data Shows|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=11 December 2025|work=The New York Times|first1=Christiaan|last1=Triebert|first2=Riley|last2=Mellen|name-list-style=amp}}</ref> Moments before the seizure, the tanker was flying the Guyanese flag, despite not being registered in that country.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Furlong |first=Ray |date=11 December 2025 |title=Tanker Seized By US Off Venezuela Was Part Of Iranian Shadow Fleet |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/tanker-seized-us-venezuela-iranian-shadow-fleet/33620478.html |access-date= |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}</ref> Reportedly, ''Skipper'' docked at least twice in Iran since July 2025, and in Hong Kong in August 2025.<ref name=WAPO11Dec2025/>
==== Seizure ==== On 10 December, ten Maritime Security and Response Team personnel from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), ten special operations personnel from the United States Marine Corps (USMC), and a number of special operations personnel aboard two helicopters launched from USS ''Gerald R. Ford'' boarded and took control of ''Skipper'' shortly after it left a Venezuelan port.<ref name=CBS10Dec/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w9lg11jw0o|title=US Seizes Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Venezuela, Trump Says|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=BBC News|first1=Kayla|last1=Epstein}}</ref>
''Skipper'' had left Puerto José in Venezuela on 4 December with about 1.8 million barrels of crude oil from PDVSA.<ref name=Pltc/><ref name=Reuters10Dec>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-administration-seizes-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast-us-officials-say-2025-12-10/|title=US Seizes Sanctioned Oil Tanker Off Coast of Venezuela, Trump Says|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=Reuters|first1=Idrees|last1=Ali|first2=Phil|last2=Stewart|first3=Liz|last3=Hampton|first4=Jonathan|last4=Saul|first5=Marianna|last5=Paraga|first6=Matt|last6=Spetalnick|first7=Nathan|last7=Crooks|editor1-first=Chris|editor1-last=Reese|editor2-first=Chizu|editor2-last=Nomiyama|editor3-first=David|editor3-last=Gregorio|editor4-first=Tom|editor4-last=Hogue|name-list-style=amp|location=Washington, D.C., United States}}</ref> Soon after its departure, near Curaçao, the tanker offloaded a portion of its oil to another ship'', Neptune 6'', which was en route to Cuba. ''Skipper'' then turned east, headed towards Asia. The oil tanker was in international waters between Grenada and Trinidad when it was boarded by US forces.<ref name="Reuters10Dec" /><ref>{{cite news|first1=Anatoly |last1=Kurmanaev|first2=Nicholas |last2=Nehamas |first3=Farnaz |last3=Fassihi|orig-date=12 December 2025|date=13 December 2025|title=Behind the Seized Venezuelan Tanker, Cuba's Secret Lifeline|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/world/americas/venezuela-cuba-oil-tanker.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=14 December 2025|id= {{ProQuest|3281984274}} }}</ref><!-- Earlier reports claimed that Skipper was headed to Cuba, but it seems that it was on its way to Asia when it was seized.
NYTimes states ~50,000 barrels transferred, Reuters states ~200,000.
It seems that Cuba frequently sells its oil from Venezuela to China for much needed cash, will add more info and rewrite later.
Skipper seems to be headed to Houston, Texas
--> <!-- Huge amounts of info in that NYT article, will beef up sanctions article where he is mentioned -->
According to US attorney general Pam Bondi and anonymous US officials, ''Skipper'' was seized in accordance with a seizure warrant issued two weeks earlier by a federal judge for allegedly transporting "sanctioned oil".<ref name=NYT10Dec/><ref name=Reuters10Dec/><ref name="SkipperWarrant" /> The ship was seized on the day the warrant was set to expire.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ward |first=Jasper |date=13 December 2025 |title=US seized tanker near Venezuela just as warrant was set to expire, court document shows |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-seized-tanker-near-venezuela-just-warrant-was-set-expire-court-document-shows-2025-12-13/ |work=Reuters}}</ref> Anonymous US officials stated to ''The New York Times'' that the sealed warrant was issued "because of the ship's past activities smuggling Iranian oil, not because of links to the Maduro government", while Bondi stated it had transported both Venezuelan and Iranian crude.<ref name=NYT10Dec/><ref name=SkipperWarrant>{{cite press release|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/us-unseals-warrant-tanker-seized-coast-guard-coast-venezuela|publisher=U.S. Department of Justice|title=U.S. Unseals Warrant for Tanker Seized by Coast Guard Off the Coast of Venezuela|date= 12 December 2025|access-date=21 December 2025}}</ref>
Bondi posted a short video excerpt of the seizure on X, adding that it was "conducted safely and securely" and was part of an investigation "to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil".<ref name=CBS10Dec/><ref name=Guardian10Dec/> According to ''The New York Times'', three anonymous United States government officials said ''Skipper''{{'s}} crew did not resist, there were no casualties, and they expected that more seizures would occur in the following weeks as "part of the administration's efforts to weaken Mr. Maduro's government by undermining its oil market".<ref name=NYT10Dec/>
The US planned additional seizures of vessels transporting Venezuelan crude.<ref name=DW11Dec/><ref name=ReutersExclusive11Dec>{{cite news|first1=Jonathan |last1=Saul|first2=Marianna |last2=Parraga |first3=Matt |last3=Spetalnick|title=Exclusive: US preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuela's coast after first ship taken, sources say|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-preparing-seize-more-tankers-off-venezuelas-coast-after-first-ship-taken-2025-12-11/|publisher=Reuters|date=11 December 2025|access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref>
=== ''Centuries'' === On 20 December, the USCG boarded a second ship, the Panama-flagged ''Centuries'' (IMO number 9206310<ref name=LL30Dec/>), carrying 1.8 million barrels of crude oil off the coast of Venezuela,<ref name= WAPO20Dec>{{cite news|first1=Tara|last1=Copp|first2=Karen |last2=DeYoung |first3=Samantha |last3=Schmidt|title=Coast Guard boards oil tanker leaving Venezuela amid Trump's blockade|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/12/20/venezuela-boats-coast-guard/|access-date=21 December 2025|id={{ProQuest|3285180970}} }}</ref> reported as "intercepted" by Reuters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-interdicting-sanctioned-vessel-off-venezuelan-coast-officials-say-2025-12-20/ |title=Exclusive: US intercepts oil tanker off Venezuelan coast, officials say |publisher=Reuters|orig-date=20 December 2025|date= 21 December 2025|access-date=21 December 2025|first1=Idrees |last1=Ali |first2=Phil |last2=Stewart |first3=Nolan D. |last3=McCaskill}}</ref> According to ''The Washington Post'', neither the vessel nor its owner are sanctioned entities, and an unnamed source said the boarding was based on a history of the vessel transporting oil to China, and a "right to visit" law that "allows a warship to board and inspect a vessel it suspects is engaging in illicit activity".<ref name=WAPO20Dec/> Permission to board was obtained from Panama,<ref name=WAPO20Dec/> which later stated that the vessel had violated Panamanian maritime law by turning off its transponder while sailing with crude.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moreno |first=Elida |date=22 December 2025 |title=Panama says Venezuela-related tanker intercepted by US did not follow maritime rules |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/panama-says-venezuela-related-tanker-intercepted-by-us-did-not-follow-maritime-2025-12-22/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251222213834/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/panama-says-venezuela-related-tanker-intercepted-by-us-did-not-follow-maritime-2025-12-22/ |archive-date=22 December 2025 |access-date=23 December 2025 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> ''Centuries'' had a history of faking its location.<ref> {{cite news|last1=Nehamas|first1=Nicholas|last2=Kurmanaev|first2=Anatoly|last3=Triebert|first3=Christiaan|date= 20 December 2025|title=U.S. Coast Guard Boards Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/us/politics/us-coast-guard-venezuela-oil-tanker.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=24 December 2025|id= {{ProQuest|3285078553}} }}</ref> As of 22 December, it was not clear if the vessel would be released or when.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Tanker Seizures Begin to Draw International and Domestic Scrutiny|last1=Glatsky|first1=Genevieve|work=The New York Times|date=22 December 2025|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/world/americas/trump-venezuela-oil-tankers-maduro.html|access-date= 24 December 2025|id= {{ProQuest|3285782116}} }}</ref> In February, the ship was reported to be moored at the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area.<ref>{{cite web |title=CENTURIES, Crude Oil Tanker - Details and current position - IMO 9206310 - VesselFinder |url=https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9206310 |website=www.vesselfinder.com |access-date=11 February 2026}}</ref><!-- info to add:
Centuries was escorted by a Venezuelan ship until it left the country's EEZ, where it was later seized.
https://x.com/i/status/2002503251070259609 https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-interdicting-sanctioned-vessel-off-venezuelan-coast-officials-say-2025-12-20 https://x.com/TankerTrackers/status/2002497943811563795?s=20 -->
=== ''Marinera'' (''Bella 1'') === thumb|right|{{USCGC|Munro|WMSL-755|2}} shadowing the tanker ''Bella 1'' [[File:USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Right of Visit Boarding Operation.jpg|thumb|USCG and Marines, attached to HSC-9 aboard the USS ''Gerald R. Ford'', following a right of visit operation in the Atlantic Ocean, 7 January 2026]] The USCG had been pursuing a third VLCC, ''Bella 1'' (IMO number 9230880),<ref name=LL30Dec>{{cite journal|first1=Greg|last1=Miller|title=Chinese-flagged VLCC en route to Venezuela despite US blockade|date= 30 December 2025|url=https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1155971/Chinese-flagged-VLCC-en-route-to-Venezuela-despite-US-blockade|journal=Lloyd's List|access-date=30 December 2025}}</ref> since 20 December 2025, from the Caribbean through the Atlantic Ocean.<ref name=WSJ30Dec2025/><ref name=WAPO7Jan2026/> The tanker had previously transported Iranian oil, and was en route to load Venezuelan oil purchased by a company associated with the recently-sanctioned Panamanian, Pedro Carretero.<ref name=NYT21Dec>{{cite news|first1=Nicholas |last1=Nehamas|first2=Christiaan |last2=Triebert|first3=Tyler |last3=Pager|first4=Anatoly |last4=Kurmanaev |first5=Eric |last5=Schmitt|title=U.S. Coast Guard Pursues Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela|date= 21 December 2025|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/us/politics/us-coast-guard-venezuela-oil-tankers.html|work= The New York Times |access-date= 22 December 2025 |id={{ProQuest|3285313328}} }}</ref> The vessel was sanctioned by the US for "allegedly carrying black-market Iranian oil on behalf of ... Hezbollah and the Houthis" and "has links to the Quds Force".<ref name=WSJ30Dec2025/> The tanker is owned by Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises, a Turkish company, sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2024.<ref name=WSJ25Dec2025/> The US had a seizure warrant for ''Bella 1'', which had a history of spoofing its location, was sailing without a valid flag, and did not submit to boarding.<ref name=WSJ30Dec2025/><ref name=NYT21Dec/>
Heading for Venezuela with no cargo, the ship's crew resisted boarding on 20 December and the vessel made a U-turn with the USCG in pursuit.<ref name=WSJ25Dec2025>{{cite news|first1=Costas|last1=Paris |first2=Shelby |last2=Holliday|date=25 December 2025|title=Coast Guard Tracks Down Runaway Oil Tanker Linked to Iran and Venezuela|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/coast-guard-tracks-down-a-runaway-oil-tanker-linked-to-iran-and-venezuela-32f7660c?|access-date=26 December 2025|id={{ProQuest|3286833140}} }} </ref><ref name=Reuters24Dec2025>{{cite news|first1=Idrees|last1=Ali|first2=Jonathan|last2=Saul|first3=Trevor|last3=Hunnicutt|date=24 December 2025|title=Exclusive: U.S. Coast Guard lacks forces to seize Venezuela-linked tanker for now, sources say|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-eyes-additional-coast-guard-assets-seize-fleeing-tanker-sources-say-2025-12-24/|publisher=Reuters|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref> The USCG requires a Maritime Special Response Team to intercept a hostile ship.<ref name=WSJ25Dec2025/><ref name=Reuters24Dec2025/> Officials told ''The Wall Street Journal'' the team was in place, but because the tanker was old and not carrying oil, "there has been some debate within the Coast Guard and the Navy over whether the tanker should be captured".<ref name=WSJ30Dec2025>{{cite news|first1= Costas |last1=Paris |first2=Shelby |last2=Holliday|title=Oil Tanker Pursued by the U.S. Appears to Claim Russian Protection|date=30 December 2025|url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/oil-tanker-pursued-by-the-u-s-appears-to-claim-russian-protection-2d10ecd2?|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=30 December 2025 |id= {{ProQuest|3288359581}} }}</ref>
A Russian flag was painted on the vessel reported on 31 December in what US officials said was "an apparent attempt to claim protection from Moscow" although "international law stipulates that ships aren't permitted to change their flags mid-voyage unless there is a change of ownership or registration".<ref name=WSJ30Dec2025/><ref name="Herb">{{Cite news |last=Herb |first=Jeremy |date=10 January 2026 |title=A painted flag, a Russian bluff and an 18-day chase across the Atlantic |url=https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/10/politics/a-painted-flag-a-russian-bluff-and-an-18-day-chase-across-the-atlantic |access-date=20 January 2026 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}</ref> On that day, Russia sent a request through diplomatic channels to ask the United States to stop its pursuit of the tanker.<ref name="Herb" /> By 1 January 2026, the vessel appeared on the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping under a new name, ''Marinera'', complicating the seizure matter.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Christiaan |last1=Triebert |first2=Nicholas |last2=Nehamas|title=Oil Tanker Fleeing the Coast Guard Now Listed in Russian Ship Database|orig-date=31 December 2025|date=1 January 2026|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/russia-oil-tanker-venezuela.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=2 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Nicholas |last1=Nehamas|first2=Edward |last2=Wong |first3=Tyler |last3=Pager|title=Russia Asks United States to Stop Pursuit of Fleeing Oil Tanker|date=1 January 2026|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/us/politics/russia-oil-tanker-venezuela-us-pursuit.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=2 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="Herb" /> On 6 January, it was reported that ''Marinera'' was being escorted by a Russian submarine and a navy vessel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holliday |first1=Shelby |last2=Paris |first2=Costas |last3=Kantchev |first3=Georgi |date=6 January 2026 |title=Russia Sends Submarine to Escort Tanker the U.S. Tried to Seize Off Venezuela |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-sends-submarine-to-escort-tanker-the-u-s-tried-to-seize-off-venezuela-4bd78dc7? |access-date=7 January 2026 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> <ref name="WSJ7Jan2026">{{cite news |last1=Holliday |first1=Shelby |last2=Paris |first2=Costas |last3=Seligman |first3=Lara |date=7 January 2026 |title=U.S. Forces Seize Fleeing Tanker Being Escorted by Russian Vessels |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/u-s-forces-launch-operation-to-seize-fleeing-oil-tanker-0d6443ab |access-date=7 January 2026 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> On that day, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced it was monitoring the situation, with US officials confirming Russia had asked the US to stop the pursuit.<ref name=WSJ7Jan2026/> The tanker appeared bound on a voyage towards a Russian port in the Arctic.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lynch |first=David |date=7 January 2026 |title=British armed forces were involved in US seizure of oil tanker, MoD reveals |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/russian-british-john-healey-ministry-of-defence-nato-b1265399.html |access-date=7 January 2026 |work=The Standard}}</ref>
The United States European Command (EUCOM) announced on 7 January 2026, that ''Marinera'' had been seized by the USCG cutter {{USCGC|Munro|WMSL-755|2}} in the Atlantic Ocean waters between Iceland and Scotland, traveling northward and eastward;<ref name=Reuters7Jan2026>{{cite news |first1=Idrees |last1=Ali |first2=Phil |last2=Stewart |title=Exclusive: US seizes Venezuela-linked, Russian-flagged oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit |url= https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-seizing-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker-after-weeks-long-pursuit-2026-01-07/|publisher=Reuters|date=7 January 2026|access-date=7 January 2026 }}</ref> an unnamed US official told ''The Washington Post'' that the vessel was secure and the Russians had not interfered with the seizure.<ref name=WAPO7Jan2026>{{cite news |first1=Tara|last1=Copp |title=U.S. seizes Russian-flagged tanker that fled Venezuela blockade |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/07/us-intercept-oil-tanker-russia-venezuela/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=7 January 2026|access-date=7 January 2026}}</ref> US military aircraft and special operation forces, including Navy SEALs, were reported to have been prepositioned in Scotland to board the vessel, which was boarded by helicopter.<ref name="Herb" /> Boeing P-8 Poseidon, Lockheed AC-130J and Pilatus U-28A Draco aircraft assisted the helicopter boarding.<ref name=WSJ7Jan2026/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62nqjj29jgo |title=US planes land at Scottish airport during operation to seize tanker |last=McKenzie |first=Steven |work=BBC News |date=7 January 2026 |access-date=12 January 2026}}</ref> The United Kingdom acted as a supporting force by contributing a number of Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance aircraft to monitor and assist the seizure, while the replenishment vessel RFA ''Tideforce'' was provided to support US vessels. Icelandic media reported that the seizure happened in international waters within Iceland's exclusive economic zone, with the Icelandic Coast Guard monitoring the vessel but not intervening in the seizure.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Þórðarson |first=Oddur |date=7 January 2026 |title=Bandaríkin tóku yfir olíuskip undan Íslandi – íslensk stjórnvöld vissu af mögulegum afskiptum - RÚV.is |trans-title=The United States seized oil tankers off Iceland – the Icelandic government knew of possible interference - RÚV.is |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/erlent/463087 |access-date=8 January 2026 |website=RÚV|language=is}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Zubenko |first=Iryna |date=7 January 2026 |title=USA Seizes Russian Oil Tanker Near Iceland |url=https://grapevine.is/news/2026/01/07/usa-seizes-russian-oil-tanker-near-iceland/ |access-date=8 January 2026 |website=The Reykjavik Grapevine |language=en-US}}</ref>
Russia accused the US of "outright piracy" in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and demanded that Russian members of the crew be repatriated.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 January 2026|title=Russia says US seizure of oil tanker is illegal, lawmaker calls it piracy |url= https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-says-us-seizure-of-oil-tanker-is-illegal-lawmaker-calls-it-piracy |access-date=8 January 2026|work=The Straits Times }}</ref> The Russian Ministry of Transport stated that previously the vessel had received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag, in accordance with both Russian and "international" law.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 January 2026 |title=Oil tanker row: Moscow condemns US seizure of Russian-flagged vessel; cites violation of maritime law |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/oil-tanker-row-moscow-condemns-us-seizure-of-russian-flagged-vessel-cites-violation-of-maritime-law/articleshow/126399231.cms |access-date=7 January 2026 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem justified the interception by claiming that the Marinera was "responsible for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran".<ref name="Seddon">{{Cite news |last=Seddon |first=Max |last2=Cook |first2=Chris |date=8 January 2026 |title=Moscow says US seizure of Russian tanker risks military escalation at sea |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7369b0d4-0f8d-4214-a0de-ba8e3a47b2f8 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) on X |url=https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/2008965337157451806 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112111433/https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/2008965337157451806 |archive-date=12 January 2026 |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=X |language=en }}</ref> The US had previously cited the alleged statelessness of the vessel as justification for the seizure.<ref name="Seddon" /> Unnamed US officials indicated that the seizure was meant to deter other sanctioned tankers from changing their flag to the Russian flag to evade sanctions.<ref name="Herb" /> ''Marinera'' was described by the British Secretary of State for Defence John Healey as being part of "shadow fleet activity", which he also called "a sanctioned, stateless vessel".<ref>{{cite news |date=7 January 2026 |title=UK supported US mission to seize Russian-flagged oil tanker, MoD says |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/uk-supported-us-mission-seize-russian-oil-tanker-mod-says-2026-01-07/ |access-date=7 January 2026 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref><ref name="Seddon" />
The crew was reported to consist of 17 Ukrainian, six Georgian, three Indian and two Russian citizens, with the captain being Georgian.{{efn|name=fn2|Initial reporting suggested 20 Ukrainian, six Georgian, and two Russian citizens as part of the crew.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 January 2026 |title=Six Georgian Sailors Aboard Tanker Seized by US in Atlantic |url=https://caspianpost.com/georgia/six-georgian-sailors-aboard-tanker-seized-by-us-in-atlantic |access-date=12 January 2026 |website=The Caspian Post |location=Azerbaijan}}</ref> Later reporting by Russian state media indicating that three Indian nationals were aboard, together with Ukrainian diplomatic sources reporting the number of Ukrainians to be 17, suggests that three Indian crew members had initially been mislabeled as Ukrainian.}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chiu |first=Leo |date=20 January 2026 |title=Kremlin: Russian Sailors Not Freed Despite US Assurances |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/68406 |access-date=20 January 2026 |work=The Kyiv Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 January 2026 |title=US-seized oil tanker row: 3 Indians among detained crew; Moscow demands humane treatment |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-seized-oil-tanker-row-3-indians-among-detained-crew-moscow-demands-humane-treatment/articleshow/126420062.cms |access-date=21 January 2026 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Journalists from Current Time TV and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the tanker was linked to two Kremlin allies, Moldovan pro-Russian fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor and Ukrainian pro-Russian fugitive politician Viktor Baranskyi.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/news/2026/01/9/7228747/|title=Tanker seized by US linked to Moldovan oligarch and ally of former Ukrainian politician|first=Maria|last=Yemets|newspaper=European Pravda|date=9 January 2026}}</ref> The Russian Foreign Ministry called the potential legal prosecution of the crew by the US "categorically unacceptable".<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 January 2026 |title=Russia Accuses U.S. of Stoking 'Military-Political Tension' With Tanker Seizure |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/01/08/russia-accuses-us-of-stoking-military-political-tension-with-tanker-seizure-a91631 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref> On 9 January, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the United States had decided to release the two Russian citizens aboard the vessel after appealing to Trump.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 January 2026 |title=Moscow Says U.S. Released 2 Russian Crew From Seized Tanker |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/01/09/moscow-says-us-released-2-russian-crew-from-seized-tanker-a91635 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref> ''Marinera'' was moored on 13 January in the Moray Firth, northeastern Scotland.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pooran |first=Neil |date=13 January 2026 |title=Venezuelan-linked oil tanker in Moray Firth for provisions after seizure by US |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/russian-moray-firth-north-atlantic-scotland-coast-guard-b1266338.html |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> While the First Minister of Scotland complained he had received no advance notice from the British government regarding the mooring, the British government said the ship had entered UK waters to replenish essential supplies, including food and water for the crew.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKenzie |first=Steven |last2=Angus-Mackay |first2=Cameron |date=14 January 2026 |title=John Swinney 'deeply concerned' seized tanker is in Moray Firth |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgezq028458o |access-date=20 January 2026 |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 16 January, the BBC reported that ''Marinera'' would be taken to the US to be "subject to a judicial forfeiture process" and that the individuals involved in its attempt to flee would be prosecuted by American authorities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banks |first=Ken |last2=Philip |first2=Ben |date=16 January 2026 |title=Seized tanker moored in Scottish waters will be taken to the US |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwywezj5xgjo |access-date=20 January 2026 |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> The United States had not confirmed whether it had planned to release the Russians by 20 January, leading Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to call on his American colleagues to "fulfill their promises".<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 January 2026 |title=Russian Crew Members of Seized Oil Tanker Still in U.S. Custody, Lavrov Says |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/01/20/russian-crew-members-of-seized-oil-tanker-still-in-us-custody-lavrov-says-a91724 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref> With the exception of the captain and the first officer, the crew was released and disembarked on January 26, with the Russian sailors returning home soon after.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKay |first=Gabriel |date=2026-01-29 |title=Russian sailors detained in Scotland on seized tanker discuss their experience |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25806551.russians-detained-scotland-marinera-back-moscow/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McKay |first=Gabriel |date=2026-02-06 |title=Identity of second man taken from Scotland to US after tanker seizure confirmed |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25832563.identity-second-marinera-sailor-taken-scotland-us-confirmed/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref> The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reportedly opened an investigation about the Ukrainian sailors of the ''Marinera''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKay |first=Gabriel |date=2026-04-03 |title=Men released from tanker held in Scotland 'wanted by Ukrainian security services' |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25993942.men-released-tanker-held-scotland-wanted-sbu/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref>
=== ''M Sophia'' === On 7 January 2026, US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) announced that it had seized the oil tanker ''M Sophia'' (IMO number 9289477) in the Caribbean Sea.<ref name=WSJ7Jan2026/><ref name=Reuters7Jan2026/> It described the vessel as a "stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker".<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4372191/maritime-interdiction-operation-jan-7-2026/|date= 7 January 2026|access-date=7 January 2026|publisher=United States Southern Command|title=Maritime Interdiction Operation, Jan. 7, 2026}}</ref> ''M Sophia'' was flying a Panamanian flag and reportedly had its transponder off for approximately five months before being seized.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rojas |first=Alberto |date=7 January 2026 |title=US Special Forces Capture a Russian Tanker in the North Atlantic and Seize a Second Freighter in the Caribbean|url=https://www.mundoamerica.com/news/2026/01/07/695e711ae4d4d8d3228b4571.html |access-date=7 January 2026 |website=EL Mundo America|language=en}}</ref> Unnamed US officials indicated on 28 January that ''M Sophia'' would be returned to Venezuelan authorities.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2026 |title=U.S. handing over seized tanker to Venezuela, officials say: Reuters |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/us-handing-over-seized-tanker-to-venezuela-officials-say-reuters.html |access-date=29 January 2026 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> === ''Olina'' (''Minerva M'') === On 9 January, USSOUTHCOM announced that it had seized MV ''Olina'' (IMO number 9282479) in the Caribbean in a joint operation with the USCG.<ref name=NBC9Jan/><ref name=LL9Jan>{{cite journal|first1=Tomer |last1=Raanan|title=Update: US boards fifth sanctioned tanker|date= 9 January 2026|url=https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1156033/UPDATE-US-boards-fifth-sanctioned-tanker|journal=Lloyd's List|access-date=9 January 2026}}</ref> The oil tanker was reported to be flying the false flag of Timor-Leste and left Venezuela fully loaded with sanctioned oil.<ref name=NBC9Jan>{{cite news|first1=Courtney |last1=Kube |first2=Yuliya |last2=Talmazan|title=U.S. seizes another tanker in campaign to control flow of Venezuelan oil|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/world/venezuela/us-seizes-tanker-olina-caribbean-venezuela-russia-oil-rcna253170|publisher=NBC News|date= 9 January 2026|access-date=9 January 2026}}</ref> The seizure was carried out by sailors and marines from USS ''Gerald R. Ford.''<ref name=USNI9Jan>{{cite news|title=Marines, Coast Guard Seize Tanker Olina in Caribbean|first1=Heather|last1=Mongilio|first2=Sam|last2=Lagrone|date= 9 January 2026|url=https://news.usni.org/2026/01/09/marines-coast-guard-seize-tanker-olina-in-caribbean|publisher=United States Naval Institute |access-date=9 January 2026}}</ref> The Aframax tanker<ref name=LL9Jan/> was previously named ''Minerva M'' and sanctioned by the US in 2021,<ref name=USNI9Jan/> and also by the UK and EU.<ref name=LL9Jan/>
After Trump stated the vessel's departure from Venezuela was unauthorized, and ''Olina'' had been seized "in coordination with the interim authorities of Venezuela", PDVSA announced the tanker was being returned to Venezuela as part of a joint operation with the US. Trump said: "The oil will be sold through the GREAT Energy Deal, which we have created for such sales".<ref>{{cite news|title=Pdvsa confirma el retorno de buque incautado a aguas venezolanas en operación conjunta con EE. UU.|trans-title= PDVSA confirms the return of the seized vessel to Venezuelan waters in a joint operation with the U.S.|url=https://elpitazo.net/economia/pdvsa-confirma-el-retorno-de-buque-incautado-a-aguas-venezolanas-en-operacion-conjunta-con-ee-uu/|publisher= El Pitazo/EFE|date= 10 January 2026|access-date= 10 January 2026|lang=es}}</ref><ref name=NYT9Jan>{{cite news| first1=Christiaan |last1=Triebert|first2=Eric |last2=Schmitt |first3=Nicholas |last3=Nehamas|title=U.S. Boards Another Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/world/americas/us-oil-tanker-venezuela-olina.html|work=The New York Times|date=9 January 2026|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref>
=== ''Veronica'' === On 15 January 2026, USSOUTHCOM announced it had seized ''Veronica'' (IMO number 9256860), a crude oil tanker, in the Caribbean.<ref name="CBS News" /> They said the ship was in defiance of Trump's "quarantine of sanctioned vessels". While the oil tanker was sailing under the flag of Guyana, the International Maritime Organization's database indicated it was previously registered in Russia under different names.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brajesh |first=Upadhyay |last2=Sherman |first2=Natalie |title=US forces seize a sixth Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Caribbean Sea |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4qdnj5vl9o |access-date=15 January 2026 |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Ship Tracking Intelligence {{!}} AIS Marine Traffic {{!}} VERONICA Crude Oil Tanker IMO: 9256860 |website=www.marinetraffic.com |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:752873/mmsi:750466000/imo:9256860/vessel:VERONICA |access-date=15 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
=== ''Sagitta'' === On 21 January, USSOUTHCOM announced it had seized a seventh tanker in the Caribbean, ''Sagitta'' (IMO number 9296822), "without incident".<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 January 2026 |title=US military says it seized another Venezuela-linked oil tanker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/20/us-military-seizes-oil-tanker-venezuela |access-date=27 January 2026 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> It indicated that the tanker was "operating in defiance of President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean". ''Sagitta'' was owned and registered by a Hong Kong-based company and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref name="Mongilio">{{Cite web |last=Mongilio |first=Heather |date=20 January 2026 |title=U.S. Forces Seize Sanctioned Tanker in SOUTHCOM |url=https://news.usni.org/2026/01/20/u-s-forces-seize-sanctioned-tanker-in-southcom |access-date=27 January 2026 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="NBC News">{{Cite web |date=21 January 2026 |title=U.S. forces seize seventh sanctioned tanker linked to Venezuela in Trump's effort to control its oil |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/world/latin-america/us-forces-seize-seventh-sanctioned-tanker-linked-venezuela-rcna255141 |access-date=27 January 2026 |publisher=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The vessel was sanctioned while flying the Panamanian flag, and was seized while reportedly flying the Liberian flag.<ref name="Mongilio" /><ref name="NBC News" /> At the time of capture, the ship was also in the sanctions lists of Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2005 |title=SAGITTA |url=https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/NK-3tJWc6bZkEj3EUArihVFTF/ |access-date=27 January 2026 |website=OpenSanctions.org |language=en}}</ref>
=== ''Aquila II'' === On 9 February, United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) directed an overnight boarding and capture of the Suezmax tanker ''Aquila II'' (IMO number 9281152) in the Indian Ocean. The vessel had previously departed Venezuelans waters in January 2026, with approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil headed for China. According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this was against the "quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean."<ref name="Reuters" />
=== Summary of seizures of oil tankers === {| class="wikitable sortable" !No. !Vessel !IMO number !Size !Date !Location !Oil cargo (mil. bbl) !Sanctions !Notes and sources |- |1 |''Skipper'' (''Adisa'') |9304667 |rowspan="4"|VLCC |2025-12-10 |International waters between Grenada and Trinidad |1.85 |{{flag|United States}} |<ref name=CBS10Dec/><ref name=USTreas3Nov2022/> |- |2 |''Centuries'' |9206310 |2025-12-20 |Near Venezuela |1.83 |— |Apprehended as a "False flag ship"<ref>{{cite web |title=Venezuela {{!}} What is known about Centuries and Bella 1, the oil tankers seized by the United States in the Caribbean – The Observatorial |url=https://observatorial.com/news/world/1566649/venezuela-what-is-known-about-centuries-and-bella-1-the-oil-tankers-seized-by-the-united-states-in-the-caribbean/ |website=observatorial.com |access-date=11 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Aratani |first=Lauren |date=20 December 2025 |title=US intercepts second merchant vessel off coast of Venezuela in international waters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/20/us-second-merchant-vessel-venezuela |access-date=8 January 2026 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |quote=Centuries, which loaded in Venezuela under the false name "Crag" and is part of the dark fleet, was carrying some 1.8m barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil bound for China, according to internal documents from state oil company PDVSA, the oil's seller.}}</ref> |- |3 |''Marinera'' (''Bella 1'') |9230880 |rowspan="2"|2026-01-07 |Atlantic Ocean, between Iceland and Scotland |0 |{{flag|United States}} |<ref>{{cite news|first1=Tural |last1=Ahmedzade|first2=Harvey |last2=Symons|first3=Oliver |last3=Holmes |first4=Dan |last4=Sabbagh|title=Reflagged by Russia, spied on by UK, seized by US: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic?|date= 7 January 2026|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/07/marinera-seized-tanker-atlantic-us-uk-russia|work= The Guardian|access-date=9 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Mykola |last1=Kuzmin|title=What was the Marinera really carrying for Russia and Venezuela, and why did Washington move first?|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/marinera-srussia-tanker-cargo-opinion-5HjdQMn_2/|publisher=LBC News|date=7 January 2026|access-date=9 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 January 2026 |title=Will US capture of Russian-flagged tanker lead to conflict with Putin? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/us-capture-russian-flagged-tanker-marinera-bella-tensions-putin-13966604.html |access-date=8 January 2026 |website=firstpost.com}}</ref><ref name="NYT2026-01-07">{{cite news |title=U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker and Boards Another Amid Tensions With Russia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/us/politics/us-russia-oil-tanker.html |access-date=11 January 2026 |work=The New York Times |date=7 January 2026 }}</ref> |- |4 |''M Sophia'' |9289477 | rowspan="4" |Caribbean Sea |1.8 |{{flag|United States}}<br />{{flag|United Kingdom}} |False identity as ''Varada Blessing''<ref name="NYT2026-01-07" /><ref>{{cite news |date=7 January 2026 |title=US seizes 2 oil tankers linked to Venezuela |url=https://www.navycrf.com/2026/01/07/us-seizes-2-oil-tankers-linked-to-venezuela/ |access-date=8 January 2026 |website=NavyCRF}}</ref> |- |5 |''Olina'' (''Minerva M'') |9282479 |rowspan="3"|Aframax |2026-01-09 |0.7 |{{flag|United States}}<br />{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br />{{flag|European Union}} |Returned to Venezuela in a joint operation<ref name=LL9Jan/><ref>{{Cite news |last3=Faucon |first1=Shelby |last1=Holliday|first2=Costas |last2=Paris |first3=Benoit |date=9 January 2026 |title=U.S. Forces Board Fifth Tanker in Campaign to Track Down Venezuelan Oil |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/u-s-forces-board-fifth-tanker-in-campaign-to-track-down-venezuelan-oil-08d1721f |access-date=9 January 2026 |work=The Wall Street Journal |id={{ProQuest|3291772835}} }}</ref><ref name=NYT9Jan/> |- |6 |''Veronica'' |9256860 |2026-01-15 |0 |{{flag|United States}} |<ref name="CBS News">{{Cite web |date=15 January 2026 |title=U.S. forces seize sixth Venezuela-linked oil tanker - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-forces-seize-sixth-oil-tanker-venezuela/ |access-date=15 January 2026 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |7 |''Sagitta'' |9296822 |2026-01-20 | |{{flag|United States}}<br />{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br />{{flag|European Union}}<br />{{Flag|Switzerland}}<br />{{Flag|New Zealand}}<br />{{Flag|Australia}} |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Ship Tracking Intelligence {{!}} AIS Marine Traffic {{!}} SAGITTA Crude Oil Tanker IMO: 9296822 |website=www.marinetraffic.com |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:7196440/mmsi:636090864/imo:9296822/vessel:SAGITTA |access-date=21 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=21 January 2026 |title=US forces seize seventh sanctioned tanker linked to Venezuela in Trump's effort to control its oil |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/us-forces-seize-seventh-sanctioned-tanker-linked-venezuela-129397940 |access-date=21 January 2026 |work=ABC News }}</ref> |- |8 |''Aquila II'' |9281152 |Suezmax |2026-02-09 | rowspan="2" |Indian Ocean |0.7 |{{flag|United States}} |<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news |date=9 February 2026 |title=US forces board Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Indian Ocean without incident |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us-boards-vessel-indian-ocean-without-incident-defense-secretary-says-2026-02-09/ |access-date=9 February 2026 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AQUILA II |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:212036/mmsi:352001694/imo:9281152/vessel:AQUILA%20II |access-date=9 February 2026 |website=Marinetraffic.com}}</ref> |- |9 |''VERONICA III'' |9326055 |VLCC |2026-02-14 |1.9 |{{flag|United States}} |<ref>https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-says-it-interdicted-boarded-vessel-defying-trumps-quarantine-2026-02-15/</ref> |- |10 |Bertha | | |2026-02-24 |Indian Ocean | |{{flag|United States}} |<ref>https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/022426-us-seizes-three-sanctions-violating-vessels-tanker-bertha-intercepted-in-indian-ocean</ref> |}
== Additional sanctions and naval quarantine == {{Further|United States sanctions during the Venezuelan crisis}}
The day after the ''Skipper'' seizure, additional sanctions targeting Maduro's family and oil shipments were imposed by the US,<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. sanctions 3 of Maduro's nephews, 6 oil tankers as Venezuela pressure campaign builds|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-sanctions-nicolas-maduro-nephews-oil-tankers/|publisher=CBS News|date=11 December 2025|access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref> intent on placing financial pressure on Maduro via "maximum" enforcement of sanctions.<ref name=ReutersQuarantine/><ref name=ReutersUN23Dec>{{cite news|first1=Michelle|last1=Nichols|date=23 December 2025|publisher= Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us-tells-un-it-will-deprive-venezuelas-maduro-drug-cartel-of-resources-2025-12-23/ |title=US tells UN it will deprive Venezuela's Maduro, drug cartel of resources|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref> Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the United Nations, stated in a December meeting of the UN Security Council that the sanctioned vessels provide the "primary economic lifeline" that furthers Maduro's "ability to sell Venezuela's oil", enabling "his fraudulent claim to power and his narco-terrorist activities".<ref name=APVenezuelaPiracy/>
Among those sanctioned were six companies and six vessels that had recently transported Venezuelan crude, and Ramón Carretero Napolitano, a Panamanian who allegedly had business ties to Maduro's family involving oil.<ref name=DW11Dec>{{cite news|title=US slaps sanctions on Maduro's 'narco-nephews'|first1= Camino |last1=Gonzalez |url=https://www.dw.com/en/us-slaps-sanctions-on-maduros-narco-nephews/a-75120320|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=11 December 2025|access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=US issues fresh sanctions targeting Maduro's family, Venezuela-linked oil tankers|first1=Daphne |last1=Psaledakis|first2=Marianna |last2=Parraga |first3=Timothy |last3=Gardner|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-sanctions-maduros-nephews-six-ships-carrying-venezuela-oil-says-axios-2025-12-11/|publisher=Reuters|date=11 December 2025|access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Treasury Targets Illegitimate Maduro Regime Insiders and Sanctions Evaders in Venezuela's Oil Sector|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0332|publisher= U.S. Department of the Treasury|date=11 December 2025|access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref>
On 17 December, Trump announced a "blockade" targeting sanctioned oil tankers trading in and out of Venezuela.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Michelle L. |last1=Price|title=Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned oil tankers' into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Maduro|url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-maduro-oil-tankers-625a7c9a3106e316c97ceb68a42a1cb5|agency= Associated Press|date= 16 December 2025|access-date=16 December 2025}}</ref> Because the action is limited to sanctioned oil tankers, it is better described as a ''quarantine''; a ''blockade'' is an act of war, while enforcing sanctions is a legal matter.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump blockades oil tankers near Venezuela -- what does that mean?|first1=Chris |last1=Boccia |first2=Mariam |last2=Khan|date=22 December 2025|publisher=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-blockades-oil-tankers-venezuela/story?id=128494128|access-date=24 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=With 'blockade' against tankers, Trump escalates Venezuela standoff|first1=Anna |last1=Mulrine Grobe|date=23 December 2025|work=The Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2025/1223/trump-venezuela-blockade-tankers-maduro|access-date=24 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Benoit |last1=Faucon|first2=Costas |last2=Paris|first3=Shelby|last3=Holliday|title=The $8 Billion Black Market for Venezuelan Oil Is Suddenly Closing Down|date=17 December 2025|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=24 December 2025|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/venezuela-blockade-trump-oil-sanctions-bcbd58fd?|id={{ProQuest|3283937237}} }}</ref> One week later, US officials said Trump had ordered the "military to focus 'almost exclusively' on interdicting Venezuelan oil", without specifying what that exclusive focus meant.<ref name=ReutersQuarantine>{{cite news|first1=Steve |last1=Holland|title=White House orders military to focus on 'quarantine' of Venezuela oil|date=24 December 2025|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/white-house-orders-us-forces-focus-quarantine-venezuela-2025-12-24/|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref>
After the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US Forces on 3 January 2026, at least 16 tankers fled Venezuelan ports as of 5 January in an attempt to evade the US quarantine by heading in different directions at the same time. They tried to avoid detection by transmitting false names and position data or turning off their AIS transmitters; 15 were under previous sanctions.<ref name=NYT5Jan2026/> A ''New York Times'' article cited sources who stated the ships did not act upon orders of acting president Delcy Rodríguez, but were controlled by sanctioned businesses and individuals close to Maduro.<ref name=NYT5Jan2026>{{cite news|first1=Christiaan |last1=Triebert |first2=Anatoly |last2=Kurmanaev|date= 5 January 2026|title=Sanctioned Oil Tankers Flee Venezuela in Defiance of U.S. Blockade|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/world/americas/oil-tankers-venezuela-blockade.html|work= The New York Times|access-date=5 January 2026}}</ref> Oil industry sources stated that the tankers were "contracted by the oil traders Alex Saab and Ramón Carretero" and that by coordinating their departure, the vessels could overwhelm the quarantine; Carretero was sanctioned by the US in December 2025.<ref name=NYT5Jan2026/>
== Impact == The interdictions have led to a sharp decline in crude exports, as fears of seizure have caused several tankers, some of which are sanctioned, to remain in Venezuelan waters. Several oil tankers en route to Venezuela also made U-turns or halted their navigation following the interdictions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parraga |first=Marianna |date=15 December 2025 |title=Tankers make u-turns after US seizure of Venezuelan oil cargo, shipping data says |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/tankers-make-u-turn-after-us-seizure-venezuelan-oil-cargo-shipping-data-says-2025-12-15/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251223172021/https://www.reuters.com/business/tankers-make-u-turn-after-us-seizure-venezuelan-oil-cargo-shipping-data-says-2025-12-15/ |archive-date=23 December 2025 |access-date=23 December 2025 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> As of 24 December, only two oil tankers carrying PDVSA crude have attempted to enter international waters; one of these, ''Centuries,'' was also intercepted. More than 30 ships in Venezuela that are sanctioned by the United States could also be seized, according to Reuters.<ref name=Reuters10Dec2025>{{cite web |last1=Parraga |first1=Marianna |last2=Saul |first2=Jonathan |name-list-style=amp |date=10 December 2025 |editor1-last=Plumb |editor1-first=Christian |editor2-last=Mallard |editor2-first=William |title=Over 30 Sanctioned Ships in Venezuela at Risk After US Tanker Seizure |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/over-30-sanctioned-ships-venezuela-risk-after-us-tanker-seizure-2025-12-11/ |access-date=10 December 2025 |work=Reuters |language=en |location=Houston and London}}</ref>
As excess crude accumulated, PDVSA began to drain onshore oil storage to oil tankers in order to avoid cutting production.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Parraga |first1=Marianna |last2=Somasekhar |first2=Arathy |date=23 December 2025 |title=Venezuela resorts to floating storage as onshore storage tanks fill up |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuela-resorts-floating-storage-onshore-tanks-fill-up-amid-ship-seizures-2025-12-23/ |access-date=29 December 2025 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> On 28 December PDVSA began to shut down wells in the Orinoco Belt, an action seen as a last resort due to the high costs and logistical challenges associated with restarting them.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 December 2025 |title=Venezuela Starts Shutting Oil Wells as US Blockade Halts Flows |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-29/venezuela-starts-shutting-oil-wells-as-us-blockade-halts-flows |access-date=29 December 2025 |publisher=Bloomberg News}}</ref>
Only oil tankers linked to Chevron Corporation could freely travel through international waters with Venezuelan crude.<ref name=Reuters10Dec2025/>{{efn|Chevron is licensed by the US Government to carry crude oil to US ports, exempt from sanctions, through its joint ventures with PDVSA.<ref name=NYT23Dec>{{Cite news |last1=Kurmanaev |first1=Anatoly |last2=Elliott |first2=Rebecca F. |date=23 December 2025 |title=Trump's Tanker Crackdown Paralyzes Venezuelan Oil Exports |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/world/americas/trump-tankers-venezuela-oil-industry.html |work=The New York Times|access-date=28 December 2025|id= {{ProQuest|3286018931}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date= 24 December 2025|title=Chevron: the only foreign oil company left in Venezuela|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251224-chevron-the-only-foreign-oil-company-left-in-venezuela|work=France24|agency= Agence France-Presse|access-date=27 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Una|last1=Hajdari|date=29 December 2025|title=Explainer: Why Chevron operates in Venezuela despite US sanctions|publisher=Euronews|url=https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/12/29/explainer-why-chevron-still-operates-in-venezuela-despite-us-sanctions|access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref> }} Chevron spokesperson Bill Turenne reported that its operations in Venezuela continued without disruption.<ref name=Pltc/>
Morningstar DBRS stated in January 2026 that heightened geopolitical tensions and enforcement actions linked to Venezuela have elevated risks for the global property and casualty insurance sector, particularly in specialty lines such as marine and aviation insurance with exposure to Caribbean shipping lanes and airspace coverage. While "direct exposure to Venezuela appears limited for most international insurers, regional spillovers matter because of increased geopolitical tail risks".<ref>{{Cite web |date= 8 January 2026|title=Venezuela and the Shifting Map of Insurance Risks in the Caribbean |url=https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/471250/venezuela-and-the-shifting-map-of-insurance-risks-in-the-caribbean |access-date=11 January 2026 |publisher=Morningstar DBRS}}</ref> <!--
Add information about economic impact, further pressure to discount oil prices --> <!-- The Maritime Executive gives values and economics that could be added above, and it says 396 in the Shadow Fleet, so not sure what how the 30 reported by Reuters compares ... https://maritime-executive.com/article/seized-shadow-fleet-tanker-gets-under-way-in-u-s-coast-guard-custody -->
== Analysis == The BBC characterized the seizure and additional sanctions as a "sharp escalation in the US pressure campaign against Maduro".<ref>{{cite news|first1=Maia |last1=Davies |date=11 December 2025 |title=US sanctions six more ships after seizing oil tanker off Venezuela |work=BBC News |access-date=12 December 2025|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz688jp90epo|archive-url=https://archive.today/20251212002555/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz688jp90epo|archive-date=12 December 2025}}</ref> ''The Wall Street Journal'' described a "paralyzed tanker traffic" to Venezuelan ports—also documented by Reuters<ref name=ReutersExclusive11Dec/>—as "an existential crisis for a regime that runs on oil revenue" that "creates an escalating series of crises" that experts said could be destabilizing.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Ryan |last1=Dubé|first2=Shelby |last2=Holliday|first3=Benoit |last3=Faucon |date=11 December 2025 |title=Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Strikes at the Heart of Maduro's Grip on Power |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/seizure-of-venezuelan-oil-strikes-at-the-heart-of-maduros-grip-on-power-2d2352c8? |access-date=12 December 2025|id= {{ProQuest|3281588990}} }}</ref>
China buys most of Venezuela's oil at discounted prices.<ref name=CNBC22Dec/> US actions could aggravate tensions between the US and China over control of the Panama Canal.<ref name=CNBC22Dec>{{cite news|first1=Lori Ann|last1=LaRocco|date= 22 December 2025|title= How U.S. oil tanker seizures targeting Venezuela are linked to rising geopolitical tensions with China|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/22/tanker-seizures-venezuela-oil-china.html|publisher= CNBC|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref>
Representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the sanctions and quarantine, saying the US is "violating fundamental rules of international law".<ref name=ReutersQuarantine/><ref>{{cite press release|title=UN experts condemn United States blockade and aggression against Venezuela|date=24 December 2025|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/12/un-experts-condemn-united-states-blockade-and-aggression-against-venezuela|publisher= United Nations Office of the High Commissioner|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref> Other analysts say the US has never ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but its novel actions in the Venezuela case will test established maritime practices and may encourage other countries to seize vessels in international waters.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Peter|last1=Eavis|date= 24 December 2025|title= Trump's Seizures of Oil Tankers Challenge Maritime Rules and Customs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/24/business/trump-venezuela-oil-tankers.html|work= The New York Times|access-date=26 December 2025|id= {{ProQuest|3286275695}} }}</ref>
International law scholars have broadly agreed that the boarding of ''Skipper'' was made in accordance to UNCLOS due to the ship flying a Guyanese flag despite not being registered there, thus making it stateless.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Jennifer |date=9 January 2026 |title=Maritime boardings and international law: The Venezuela context |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/maritime-boardings-international-law-venezuela-context |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=Lowy Institute |language=en |quote=The question of statelessness is central to the recent US boardings. Under UNCLOS, any warship may board a vessel on the high seas if it is stateless, meaning it is not lawfully registered with any country or is falsely claiming a nationality. [...] This appears to have been the case with several recent boardings linked to Venezuela. In one instance, a vessel falsely claimed it was Guyana-flagged. Where a vessel cannot demonstrate a genuine flag state, it may be treated as stateless and boarded under international law.}}</ref><ref name="McLaughlin">{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Rob |last2=McLaughlin |first2=Conor |date=15 December 2025 |title=Was the Visit and Seizure of the Skipper off the Coast of Venezuela Lawful? |url=https://www.justsecurity.org/127199/seizure-skipper-venezuela-lawful/ |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=Just Security |language=en-US }}</ref> However, several highlighted that the extent of the boarding party's jurisdiction over the vessel, people and cargo is not settled, because while some states adhere to the view that a boarding party has total jurisdiction over a boarded stateless vessel, others adhere to a more limited jurisdiction interpretation.<ref name="McLaughlin" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutton |first=Elizabeth |date=22 December 2025 |title=Maritime Law Enforcement on the High Seas: Authority, Jurisdiction, and the Seizure of The Skipper |url=https://www.justsecurity.org/127791/maritime-law-high-seas-seizure-skipper/ |access-date=21 January 2026 |website=Just Security |language=en-US |quote=Some States hold that stateless vessels are subject to the jurisdiction of any State and therefore may be arrested by any State as they "enjoy the protections of none." Other States believe that statelessness itself does not create such a vast entitlement, only that it removes the barrier of exclusive flag State jurisdiction, allowing other States that have some other jurisdictional nexus to the vessel, such as the citizenship of the people onboard, the citizenship of the vessel owners, etc., to have enforcement options. Because States continue to adhere to each of these competing views, international law has not developed a uniform rule for this issue. So long as the rule remains unsettled, both options remain legally supportable under international law.}}</ref>
== Reactions == === United States === When Trump confirmed the seizure of ''Skipper'', he stated that "we've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela—a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually" and that it was "seized for a very good reason".<ref name=Guardian10Dec/> When Trump was asked what the United States would do with ''Skipper'', he responded "we keep it, I guess".<ref name=Reuters10Dec/> Trump administration officials like Kristi Noem and Karoline Leavitt connected the oil tanker's seizure to the administration's war on drugs in Latin America.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kinnard |first1=Meg |title=Noem says seizure of oil tanker off Venezuelan coast linked to U.S. antidrug efforts |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/noem-says-seizure-of-oil-tanker-off-venezuelan-coast-linked-to-u-s-antidrug-efforts |access-date=14 December 2025 |publisher=PBS News |agency=Associated Press |date=11 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense, wrote that – as part of Operation Southern Spear – the US would "unflinchingly conduct maritime interdiction operations ... to dismantle illicit criminal networks. Violence, drugs, and chaos will not control the Western Hemisphere."<ref>{{cite news|first1=Ian|last1=Swanson|title=Hegseth hails new seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker|date=20 December 2025|work= The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5658667-trump-administration-venezuela-blockade/|access-date=22 December 2025}}</ref>
From the Republican Party, Senator Roger Marshall told reporters that the United States "should be pushing back on Venezuela", adding that he was "concerned about the drug cartel that is running" Venezuela, referring to Cartel of the Suns.<ref name=TheHill10Dec/> Senator Rand Paul told NewsNation reporter Hannah Brandt that the seizure "sounds a lot like the beginning of a war".<ref name=TheHill10Dec/> Representative Rick Crawford told NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas that the seizure was part of an "ongoing action" against Maduro's government, adding that it was "a pretty strong signal to Maduro".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/vargasreports/oil-tanker-strong-signal-venezuela-maduro/|title=Oil Tanker Seizure 'Strong Signal' to Maduro, Says Rick Crawford|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=NewsNation|first1=Patrick|last1=Djordjevic}}</ref>
From the Democratic Party, Senator Chris Coons also told NewsNation that he was "gravely concerned that [Trump] is sleepwalking [the United States] into a war with Venezuela".<ref name=TheHill10Dec/> Senator Chris Van Hollen stated that seizure of ''Skipper'' demonstrated that the Trump administration wanted "regime change [in Venezuela]—by force".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0|title=Trump Says the US has Seized an Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Venezuela|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|agency=Associated Press |first1=Aamer|last1=Madhani|first2=Konstantin|last2= Toropin |first3=Joshua|last3=Goodman|first4=Regina|last4=Garcia Cano|name-list-style=amp|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>
=== Venezuela === The Venezuelan government "strongly denounced and repudiated" what it considered to be "a shameless robbery and an act of international piracy";<ref name=CBS10Dec/> according to Reuters, "legal specialists said it did not fall under such a definition under international law".<ref name=ReutersExclusive11Dec/> Maduro's government stated that it would "defend its sovereignty, natural resources, and national dignity with absolute determination".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/11/pressure-on-maduro-grows-after-us-seizes-dark-fleet-tanker-off-coast-of-venezuela|title=Trump expands Venezuela sanctions as Maduro decries new 'era of piracy'|first1=Andrew|last1=Roth|first2=Tom|last2=Phillips|work=The Guardian |date=12 December 2025}}</ref> It accused Trinidad and Tobago of participating in the ship's seizure, without saying how they had participated, and canceled all natural gas agreements between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogero |first1=Tiago |title=Venezuela accuses Trinidad and Tobago of taking part in US seizure of oil tanker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/15/trinidad-tobago-us-access-airports-venezuela-tensions-grow |access-date=15 December 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=15 December 2025}}</ref>
Following the announcement of the naval quarantine, Venezuela's National Assembly, controlled by Maduro's party, introduced and passed in two days a bill to criminalize the support, financing or participation in "acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts"; the Associated Press stated that opposition leader María Corina Machado has supported the vessel seizures.<ref name=APVenezuelaPiracy>{{cite news|title=Venezuela seeks to criminalize oil tanker seizures as Trump puts pressure on Maduro|first1=Regina|last1=Garcia Cano|date=23 December 2025|url=https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-oil-tankers-seizure-us-trump-d08d3682ad635558db7f292b36767dd4|agency= Associated Press|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref>
Venezuelan navy vessels began to escort oil tankers carrying Venezuelan petroleum products, though have been limited to unsanctioned tankers<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |last2=Kurmanaev |first2=Anatoly |last3=Schmitt |first3=Eric |date=17 December 2025 |title=Venezuelan Navy Escorts Vessels in Defiance of Trump's Blockade Threat |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/us/politics/venezuela-blockade-military-escort-trump.html |access-date=28 December 2025 |work=The New York Times |id={{ProQuest|3283933474}} }}</ref> and have been contained to the country's territorial waters.<ref name=NYT23Dec/>
=== Other === The government of Guyana stated that ''Skipper'' was falsely flying the flag of Guyana as it was not registered in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/oil-tanker-seized-by-us-near-venezuela-was-falsely-flying-guyana-flag-government-2025-12-11/|title=Oil Tanker Seized by US Near Venezuela Was Falsely Flying Guyana Flag, Government Says|language=en|date=10 December 2025|access-date=10 December 2025|work=Reuters|first1=Kemol|last1=King|first2=Marianna|last2=Parraga|editor1-first=Iñigo|editor1-last=Alexander|name-list-style=amp|location=Georgetown, Guyana}}</ref> Cuba's foreign ministry called the oil tanker's seizure an "act of piracy and maritime terrorism," aimed at obstructing Venezuela's right to free trade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump news at a glance: US seizure of Venezuela oil tanker an act of 'maritime terrorism', says Cuba |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/14/trump-administration-news-update-today |work=The Guardian |date=14 December 2025 |access-date=14 December 2025}}</ref>
China condemned the United States for seizing oil tankers in December 2025, stating the action was in violation of international law. In a subsequent diplomatic call between Beijing and Caracas, the two countries' top diplomats reaffirmed China's opposition to unilateralism and bullying.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Simone |title=Analysis: China has condemned Trump's Venezuela blockade. But it may also see some upsides to a new era of gunboat diplomacy |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/24/china/china-trump-venezuela-blockade-analysis-intl-hnk |publisher=CNN |date=24 December 2025 |access-date=24 December 2025}}</ref>
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, condemned the US seizure of the oil tanker as "an act of piracy" that he said had no legal basis under international law and that all countries should condemn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran in contact with IAEA whenever necessary |url=https://www.oananews.org/index.php/node/710206 |access-date=16 December 2025 |website=oananews.org}}</ref>
Russia's foreign ministry expressed support for Maduro's government and called the US action "lawlessness in the Caribbean Sea, where long-forgotten theft of other people's property, namely piracy, and banditry, are being revived".<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia compares US blockade of Venezuela to piracy|date=25 December 2025|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/russia-compares-us-blockade-venezuela-piracy-2025-12-25/|access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref>
At a special meeting of the UN Security Council in December 2025, other countries supported concerns over maritime law and member sovereignty; Panama and Argentina were among the countries supporting the US.<ref name=APVenezuelaPiracy/><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166668|publisher= United Nations|title=UN Security Council hears warnings over escalating US-Venezuela standoff|first1= Vibhu |last1=Mishra|date=23 December 2025|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|United States|Venezuela}} * 2026 United States naval blockade of Iran * MV ''Morning Glory'', an oil tanker seized by the United States in 2014 off the coast of Sidra, Libya<ref name=Pltc/> * Crisis in Venezuela * Venezuelan shadow fleet
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External sources == * [https://tankertrackers.com/report/sanctioned List of officially sanctioned tankers (latest)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20260107120131/https://tankertrackers.com/report/sanctioned List of officially sanctioned tankers (at 31 December 2025)]
{{2026 shipwrecks}} {{2025 shipwrecks}} {{Crisis in Venezuela}} {{Second presidency of Donald Trump}}
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