🚨 BREAKING: U.S.–Venezuela Oil Tensions Escalate at Sea 🇻🇪🛢️🌊

• U.S. forces have seized sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuelan crude as part of an intensified effort to enforce sanctions and block shipments of oil that Washington considers illicit. �

AAJ News +1

• In early January 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard and military intercepted a Russian-flagged tanker, the Marinera — previously known as Bella-1 — after a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic. �

Reuters +1

• A second tanker, M/T Sophia, was also taken in the Caribbean as part of these interdictions. �

WE News

• The U.S. administration says these actions are aimed at enforcing sanctions, preventing sanctioned crude from being exported, and asserting control over Venezuela’s oil resources — a strategy tied into broader geopolitical goals in the region. �

AP News

• Venezuela, Russia and other opponents have condemned the seizures, accusing the U.S. of violating maritime law and sovereignty. �

Al Jazeera

• Meanwhile, there are ongoing debates and tracking data showing other oil shipments — sanctioned or not — are still attempting to depart Venezuelan ports, reflecting the complexity of sanction-evasion tactics and global energy flows. �

The Peninsula Newspaper

This isn’t just maritime drama — it’s a live geopolitical standoff that could influence oil markets, sanctions policy, and power dynamics between the U.S., Venezuela and other global players. 🌍⚡️

#venezuela #oil #sanctions #geopolitics #energynews