(The Lion)–The U.S. Coast Guard seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker from Venezuela Wednesday in one of the biggest U.S.-Russian confrontations since the end of the Cold War.

In a dramatic operation in the North Atlantic, the U.S. took control of the Marinera, a vessel formerly known as the Bella 1 that had been under a Russian flag after weeks of trying to evade U.S. enforcement of sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports, according to Reuters.

The ship was part of the so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers used by Russia, China and Iran to evade U.S. sanctions.

“The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. “Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce – as determined by the U.S. – will be permitted.”

Hegseth also said the U.S. previously seized another Venezuelan tanker, M/T Sophia, earlier in the day.

The high-stakes maritime confrontations mark a rare direct action against a ship flying Russia’s colors, raising tensions between Washington and Moscow at a sensitive moment in global geopolitics, said The War Zone.

U.S. authorities, led by the Coast Guard with other military support, pursued the tanker across the Atlantic for more than two weeks after it slipped through a partial U.S. blockade aimed at vessels linked to Venezuelan oil and sanctions-evasion networks, reported major media sites.

The pursuit began when the tanker resisted an attempted boarding near Venezuela late last year and reversed course into the Atlantic.

Despite not carrying cargo at the time of seizure, U.S. officials maintain the ship’s activities and affiliations violate longstanding sanctions.

The Marinera’s crew had hastily changed its name and reflagged the ship under Russian registry in an apparent bid to shield it from U.S. interdiction, noted The War Zone.

The U.S. operations Wednesday weren’t without risk. Russian naval forces were reported in the vicinity during the standoff, underscoring the potential for escalation between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.

The Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday the Russian navy sent a submarine and possibly other Russian naval vessels to escort the tanker, underscoring the heightened risk of a direct confrontation in the North Atlantic.

Moscow has formally protested the U.S. pursuit and seizure, arguing no state has the right to use force against ships registered under another nation’s flag. Russia accused the U.S. of violating international norms.

Previously, a Moscow broadcaster shared photographs of the U.S. Coast Guard’s pursuit taken from the Russian vessel, noted the Wall Street Journal.

But U.S. European Command said the “vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.”

The operation involved a coordinated maritime and air response, with helicopters deployed to monitor and secure the tanker as supporting vessels maintained position nearby.

Video and photographs released by Russian and Western outlets showed a helicopter approaching the ship during the standoff, indicating preparations for boarding.

Open source intelligence posts show U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon monitoring the Marinera as far back as Jan. 4, as the tanker transited between Iceland and the U.K.

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted video of U.S. military members fast-roping onto an oil tanker, but it’s unclear whether it was from the seizure of the Marinera or the M/T Sophie. 

The War Zone documented how U.S. forces, including aviation and helicopter units similar to those used in a December tanker seizure, were built up in the U.K. apparently in preparation for the latest operation.

European military forces were also involved in supporting the seizure, underscoring the broader allied dimension of the operations.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said the United Kingdom provided assistance to the U.S. after a formal request, including access to U.K. facilities and surveillance support in the North Atlantic, reported Reuters.

Defense Secretary John Healey said the vessel had “a nefarious history” linked to Russian and Iranian sanctions evasion networks, according to Reuters.

“This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting,” he said in a statement. “The depth of our defense relationship with the U.S. is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice.”

Noem praised the crew of the USCGC Munro for pursuing the vessel through harsh conditions, calling their actions a testament to their dedication and service.

“The world’s criminals are on notice,” said Noem. “You can run, but you can’t hide. We will never relent in our mission to protect the American people and disrupt the funding of narco terrorism wherever we find it, period.”

(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)