Since the end of December, the United States has intensified its efforts to intercept vessels transporting sanctioned oil and has even managed to board and take possession of other vessels in the Caribbean under judicial mandates. The presence of a Russian submarine in an operation involving U.S. forces raises international tensions and opens a sensitive diplomatic front between Moscow and Washington at a time when both countries are trying to balance confrontations in different global scenarios. The action constitutes a major geopolitical clash between Moscow and Washington over the enforcement of sanctions and free maritime navigation in a case involving energy, diplomatic, and military interests. The vessel in question, initially identified as Bella 1 and now renamed Mariner under the Russian flag, has been pursued by the United States since the end of December, when it evaded an attempted boarding by the U.S. Coast Guard in Caribbean waters while heading to Venezuela. Caracas, January 7, 2026 – Total News Agency-TNA – The political and energy crisis in Venezuela has added a new chapter of high international tension with the confirmation that Russia has sent a submarine along with other naval resources to escort an oil tanker that U.S. forces have been trying to seize for more than two weeks in international waters. The direct involvement of Russian naval forces in such a maritime operation marks a turning point in the Venezuelan crisis and a scenario of direct confrontation between two powers with implications for regional and international stability. Sources consulted: Reuters, Wall Street Journal, CBS News, The Guardian, Financial Times, Fox News. The crew of the Mariner reportedly painted a Russian flag on its hull and changed its legal registration in an attempt to claim protection from Moscow, a maneuver that has complicated boarding efforts under Washington's justification that the vessel was sailing under an invalid flag under international maritime law. Russia's response was swift and firm. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its 'concern' over the U.S. pursuit and has stated that the attention on the vessel is 'disproportionate' to its supposedly peaceful status, according to statements collected by international media. The incident occurs within the framework of operations undertaken by the government of President Donald Trump to cut oil flows linked to the regime of Nicolás Maduro and to consolidate economic pressure on Caracas. Washington maintains that the oil tanker is part of the so-called 'shadow fleet,' a collection of vessels transporting oil for sanctioned countries like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, violating sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. According to intelligence sources cited by U.S. media, U.S. security forces have been tracking the vessel across the Atlantic for more than two weeks, with the aim of intercepting it before it reaches European waters. Experts in maritime law consulted by international media highlight that the reflagging of vessels on the high seas and their protection by foreign powers pose complex challenges for international laws and sovereignty in jurisdictional waters. The oil tanker is currently sailing in the North Atlantic, under surveillance by U.S. and European allied reconnaissance aircraft, and could approach areas under the jurisdiction of countries like Iceland or the United Kingdom in the coming days, where a possible interception or diplomatic conflict would have even broader implications for transatlantic cooperation. The situation at sea adds to a climate of maximum tension between Russia and the United States over a series of international issues, including frictions over sanctions, energy interests, and long-standing political disputes. According to the Wall Street Journal and other media, Moscow dispatched a submarine and other naval units to accompany the Mariner's voyage, a measure that underscores a direct escalation with the United States in the context of tensions over Venezuela.
Russia Deploys Submarine to Escort Tanker in Venezuela
The U.S. has intensified efforts to intercept oil tankers carrying sanctioned oil, leading to heightened tensions with Russia. Moscow has dispatched a submarine to escort the Mariner tanker, which the U.S. is attempting to seize in international waters, creating a new diplomatic crisis.
