US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tankers, Plans to Control Global Sales

On Jan 7, 2026, the Trump administration seized two sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers—Bella 1 (renamed Marinera) and M Sophia—in the North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. One vessel was Russian‑flagged, the other stateless. U.S. European Command and the Coast Guard, with support from the U.K. Defence Ministry, carried out the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the seized oil would be sold under a deal that could bring 30‑50 million barrels to U.S.‑controlled accounts. PDVSA is negotiating the sale, while the U.S. plans to import oil‑field equipment and invest in Venezuela’s electricity grid. Earlier seizures of Skipper and Centuries show a broader crackdown on a shadow fleet linked to Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah.