The United States military and Coast Guard are attempting to board a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, which authorities say is linked to Venezuela and carrying oil that may break U.S. sanctions. The vessel, originally known as Bella 1 but now sailing under the name Marinera, fled a U.S. naval blockade near Venezuela and has been tracked by U.S. forces for weeks. 

Officials say the ship was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for moving oil connected to Venezuelan and Iranian sources, and that it turned off its tracking systems, changed names, and re-registered under the Russian flag to avoid interception. U.S. military aircraft and ships have been monitoring it as it travels through the North Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland. 

Russia’s government has protested the U.S. move, saying the Marinera is in international waters and operating legally under the Russian flag, and Moscow has sent naval vessels to protect the tanker. This standoff adds to rising tensions between the United States and Russia over enforcement of oil sanctions and maritime law. 

The situation follows other recent actions by U.S. forces targeting sanctioned tankers, including another vessel seized in the Caribbean. The operation highlights the broader effort by the U.S. government to enforce sanctions on Venezuelan oil shipments and disrupt networks it says are violating sanction rules.