The United States seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, one of which was sailing under Russia’s flag. The operation marks a sharp escalation in President Donald Trump’s strategy to reshape oil flows in the Americas and force Venezuela’s socialist leadership into cooperation with Washington.
The move follows the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid on Caracas over the weekend. With Maduro now in U.S. custody, the Trump administration has intensified its maritime blockade, targeting vessels under sanctions that continue to operate in or out of the South American nation, a member of the OPEC oil producers group.
Coast Guard Operations and Rising Tensions with Russia
After a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic, U.S. Coast Guard and military special forces boarded and seized the crude oil tanker Marinera on Wednesday morning. Officials said the ship had previously resisted inspection before switching to a Russian flag. The operation, conducted under a judicial seizure warrant, unfolded with Russian naval vessels and a submarine nearby, heightening the risk of confrontation.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance described the Marinera as “a fake Russian oil tanker” created to evade sanctions. Earlier the same day, the Coast Guard intercepted another vessel, the Panama-flagged M Sophia, near the northeastern coast of South America. Records from Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, indicated that the M Sophia was carrying a full cargo of crude oil.
According to U.S. authorities, both ships were part of a “shadow fleet” used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said that only maritime trade consistent with U.S. law and national security would now be permitted.
China Condemns U.S. ‘Bullying’
The Trump administration is also negotiating with Venezuelan officials to redirect crude oil supplies intended for China and allow U.S. companies access to approximately $2 billion worth of Venezuelan oil. Beijing denounced the seizures, calling them “acts of bullying.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticised Washington’s “brazen use of force” and its “America First” approach to foreign energy markets.
Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to gain control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Following Maduro’s arrest, he announced that oil revenues from forthcoming U.S.-Venezuela deals would fund purchases of American goods, including agricultural and medical supplies. Meanwhile, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said Venezuela remained open to new energy partnerships “where all parties benefit,” even as she condemned the capture of Maduro as a “kidnapping.”
U.S. Plans to Refine and Sell Venezuelan Oil
On Tuesday, Trump declared that the U.S. would refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude that had been frozen under sanctions since 2019. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that some restrictions were being “selectively rolled back” to enable the new trade. PDVSA confirmed ongoing negotiations, describing them as “commercial transactions under legal and transparent terms.”
However, reports suggest that U.S. oil companies remain wary. According to the Financial Times, industry executives plan to demand strong assurances from Washington before investing, citing Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy.
Global oil prices dipped on Wednesday in response to expectations of increased supply from the new arrangement. Meanwhile, China, Russia, and Venezuela’s leftist allies condemned the U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s arrest, which Caracas officials claim left 100 people dead.
Washington’s allies have also voiced unease at the precedent set by seizing a sitting foreign leader, while Trump has warned of further “energy actions” across the hemisphere to secure U.S. interests.
with inputs from Reuters
