Russia has sent naval forces, including a submarine, to escort an oil tanker that has been fleeing seizure from the U.S. as part of its blockade of sanctioned vessels dealing with Venezuela, according to a new report.
The Wall Street Journal noted that Moscow has been concerned by such seizures, with the country's foreign ministry saying it was monitoring the situation "with concern."
It is unclear whether the development will alter the U.S.'s plans. CBS News had reported on Tuesday that Washington forces are still planning to seize the tanker.
The ship in question is now called the Marinera and has Sochi as a home port. It has also been added to an official Russian database, and Moscow asked Washington to stop its pursuit.
However, U.S. officials have said the ship was not flying a valid national flag when it first approached it, meaning it could be boarded under international law.
The Wall Street Journal noted in December that the U.S. has called a Maritime Special Response Team, an elite force trained to board hostile ships, to board it.
The tanker has been under U.S. sanctions for a year for transporting Iranian oil that authorities say is sold to finance terrorist activities. Officials obtained a seizure warrant but haven't boarded the vessel. Its crew has rejected being boarded on different occasions.
Another report by Reuters noted that several tankers loaded with Venezuelan oil have left the country's waters over the past days. The outlet added that about a dozen tankers have managed to leave since the beginning of the year even though President Donald Trump said the embargo remained in full force even after the capture of authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro.
Citing TankerTrackers.com and documents from state-run oil company PDVSA, all tankers referenced by the outlet are under sanctions and most carry Venezuelan crude to China.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
