The United States has launched an active pursuit of a sanctioned oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, escalating tensions over Washington’s enforcement actions against Venezuelan energy exports.
According to CNN, the vessel — identified as Bella 1 — was sailing toward Venezuela to load oil when US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board it on Sunday (local time). The ship allegedly refused to comply and continued sailing, prompting US authorities to initiate a pursuit operation.
American officials said Bella 1 is under US sanctions for alleged links to Iranian oil shipments and is considered part of a so-called “dark” or “shadow” fleet used to transport crude from countries under sanctions. Authorities added that the vessel was operating under a false flag and was already subject to a judicial seizure warrant.
“The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion,” a senior US official said. “It is flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order.”
The operation comes just a day after the US Coast Guard intercepted another tanker in international waters off Venezuela’s coast, marking the second such action in as many days. The previous interception drew sharp condemnation from Caracas, which described the move as an “act of piracy” and an attempt by Washington to seize Venezuela’s energy resources.
In a strongly worded statement, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of the “theft and hijacking” of a private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil through international waters. Citing Russia Today, Venezuelan authorities also alleged the “forced disappearance” of the ship’s crew following the interception.
Caracas has argued that the latest incident is part of a broader pattern, accusing Washington of pursuing a “colonialist model” aimed at undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty and stripping the country of its natural wealth.
From the US perspective, the actions are framed as strict enforcement of sanctions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the predawn operation on Saturday, describing it as a lawful measure to curb Venezuelan oil exports.
The pursuit follows a major escalation ordered by President Donald Trump, who recently announced a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, according to Russia Today. Trump has publicly accused Venezuela of “stealing” US energy assets and warned that failure to return them would trigger a massive military response, including what he described as “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has rejected those claims, accusing Washington of attempting to impose a “puppet government” that would abandon the country’s constitution and surrender its resources. Maduro has characterised the blockade and vessel seizures as “corsair tactics” and a form of “diplomacy of barbarism.”
The standoff has also raised concerns among major global powers. Russia and China have warned that the growing US military presence and repeated vessel seizures could destabilise the region. Both countries have called for restraint and urged all parties to adhere to international law to prevent a wider geopolitical confrontation.
