In his war against Venezuela’s drug trade, US President Donald Trump has so far seized several Venezuelan oil tankers. Earlier this month, the United States apprehended a Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Atlantic with Russian crew members aboard. Moscow has now expressed hope that the US would free them.
With the United States yet to release the Russian crew members, Russia on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) sharpened its criticism of the US, with its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying Moscow expects Washington to free Russian crew members detained aboard the vessel.
Lavrov said the tanker, Marinera, had a mixed crew that included two Russian nationals along with Ukrainians, Georgians and Indians when it was boarded by US naval forces near Iceland on January 7, 2026. His remarks appear to contradict earlier claims by Russia’s foreign ministry that the sailors had already been released.
Why was the tanker seized near Iceland?
The Marinera, formerly known as Bella-1, was seized after being tracked for more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washington’s expanded campaign to choke off Venezuelan oil exports. US officials said the operation marked one of the rare instances in recent history in which the US military seized a Russian-flagged vessel.
According to the US European Command, the tanker was detained for violating US sanctions. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the blockade of “sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect — anywhere in the world,” underscoring the global scope of the enforcement effort.
Trump himself has not commented publicly, and Lavrov’s latest statement suggests the Russian crew remains in US custody. “We were assured that a decision had been made at the highest level to secure their release,” Lavrov told a press conference.
“Unfortunately, the following days have shown that this decision is not being implemented. We expect our American colleagues to fulfill their promises,” the foreign minister added.
Did the Operation risk a US–Russia confrontation?
US officials said the seizure was carried out by the Coast Guard with support from the US military, including special forces who helped secure the vessel before handing it over to the Coast Guard. Russian military assets, including a submarine, were reported to be in the general vicinity, but officials said there were no indications of a direct confrontation.
Russia’s transport ministry said it lost contact with the Marinera after US forces boarded it, while senior Russian lawmaker Andrei Klishas described the seizure as “outright piracy,” according to state media.
Trump’s pressure campaign on Venezuela
Marinera’s seizure is the latest move in President Trump’s aggressive push against Venezuela’s oil trade, particularly shipments linked to China. The tanker had previously evaded US interception attempts in the Caribbean, operating with its transponder switched off before reflagging under Russia’s registry.
In a parallel operation, the US Coast Guard also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker, the Panama-flagged supertanker M Sophia, in Latin American waters. US Southern Command described it as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker” and said it was being escorted to the United States for final disposition.
What broader signals is Washington sending?
The maritime seizures come amid a broader escalation in US actions against Venezuela. Just days before the tanker was detained, US special forces carried out a high-risk raid in Caracas that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who was transferred to US custody to face charges related to alleged drug trafficking.
Together, the operations signal a dramatic intensification of US enforcement against Venezuela and its partners, with implications for global shipping, sanctions enforcement and US–Russia relations.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear where the Marinera will ultimately be taken, though sources cited by Reuters indicated it could enter British territorial waters. The UK Ministry of Defence has declined to comment.