The USA seized a Russian tanker with Venezuelan oil: Moscow's reaction.

According to ТСН: White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt commented on the seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers by the United States in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. One of them was linked to Russia's shadow fleet and was sailing under the Russian flag.

Leavitt noted that the tanker Marinera was once called Bella 1.

“You mean the tanker Bella I, which was seized this morning. The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of Defense, announced this seizure this morning for violating U.S. sanctions. I spoke about enforcing our sanctions policy from the podium before the New Year, and this administration is going to fully enforce the sanctions policy”

The spokeswoman confirmed that this vessel is part of Venezuela's shadow fleet, which was transporting oil and is subject to sanctions.

“The United States of America under this president is not going to tolerate this”

She also clarified that the crew of the vessel received a court order for arrest, which could lead to their accountability and return to the USA for trial.

Let’s recall that U.S. forces seized a tanker associated with Venezuela flying the Russian flag, which was boarded by American military and Coast Guard personnel.

These actions provoked an aggressive reaction from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on the USA to “immediately return” its citizens who were aboard the tanker Marinera.

The seizure of oil tankers underscores the tension in relations between the USA, Venezuela, and Russia. Such actions are part of a broader campaign to punish violations of international sanctions that the USA has imposed against Venezuela. This situation could have serious consequences for the global oil market as well as for relations among the conflicting countries.