US forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks, the US military announced on Wednesday.
"The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro," US European Command said in a post on X.
Russia sent a submarine to escort the empty oil tanker the US military had been pursuing and attempting to seize for weeks, US media reported.
The United States has been chasing the oil tanker, formerly known as the Bella 1, since it evaded a partial US blockade around Venezuela and thwarted an attempt by the US Coast Guard to board it late last month.
US officials said the tanker is part of a shadow fleet carrying oil for countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of US sanctions.
Tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the tanker nearing Iceland's exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.
Russia sent "a submarine and other naval assets" to escort the tanker, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed US officials.
CBS News said two US officials confirmed "that Russia had sent a submarine and other Russian naval vessels" as escorts.
On Tuesday, Russia's foreign ministry said it was "following with concern" the US pursuit of the tanker.
The ministry told state-run media prior to reports of the escort that the vessel was sailing under the Russian flag and was far from the US coast.
"For reasons unclear to us, the Russian vessel is receiving heightened attention from the US and NATO militaries, attention that is clearly disproportionate to its peaceful status," the ministry said.
The UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed that it had provided "enabling support" to the US during its operation to seize the tanker.
"UK Armed Forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing, to US military assets interdicting the Bella 1 in the UK-Iceland-Greenland gap following a US request for assistance. RFA Tideforce provided support for U.S. forces pursuing and interdicting the Bella 1, while the RAF provided surveillance support from the air," the ministry said in a statement.
"The UK and US defence and security relationship is the deepest in the world and the UK provided enabling support in full compliance with international law."
Defence Secretary John Healeysaid the joint operation was "part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting."
"The UK will continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy, and global stability – making Britain secure at home and strong abroad," he said.
Since being pursued by the US Coast Guard, the vessel has switched its registration to Russia, changed its name to the Marinera and the tanker's crew reportedly painted a Russian flag on the tanker last month.
The developments are the latest in US President Donald Trump's crackdown on sanctioned oil tankers going to and from Venezuela.
The oil tanker now guarded by Russia had been en route to Venezuela but was not carrying cargo before it evaded the US blockade.
It has been under US sanctions since 2024 over alleged ties to Iran and Hezbollah.
The Russian foreign ministry urged the US to allow the swift return of Russian crew members from the seized tanker.
"Given incoming information about the presence of Russian citizens among the crew, we demand that the United States ensure humane and dignified treatment, strictly respect their rights and interests, and not impede their speedy return to their homeland," the ministry was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency TASS.
It did not say how many Russian nationals were on board the Russian-flagged tanker.
Second tanker seized
The US military also announced the seizure of a sanctioned tanker ship in the Caribbean Sea, the second vessel taken by American forces on Wednesday.
US personnel "apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident. The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea," US Southern Command, which is responsible for the area, said in a post on X.
