Tensions rise as U.S. seizes two Venezuela-linked oil tankers

Another escalation on the world stage after the United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela.

The U.S. says it has seized another Venezuela-linked vessel in the Caribbean as well.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the tankers were seized as part of stabilization efforts for Venezuela — days after the U.S. captured the country’s president.

Experts CHCH News spoke to say this is another example of the States not caring about international law and that Canada’s response has been disappointing.

“Two oil tankers – two overnight – were seized by the United States of America, stateless or sanctioned, because the oil blockade, the quarantine of oil out of unsanctioned or stateless vessels continues. That leverage will continue,” said U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to assert its control over Venezuelan oil.

The U.S. has seized the Russian-flagged Marinera — originally known as the Bella 1.

It had slipped through a U.S. maritime blockade of sanctioned tankers in the Caribbean and was being shadowed by a Russian submarine after a more than two-week long pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean. It was eventually seized in the north Atlantic.

The other tanker, Sophia, was seized in Latin American waters.

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Rubio suggested the seized petroleum would be sold as part of a deal under which Venezuela would provide up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.

“We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting. That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people – not corruption, not the regime. So we have a lot of leverage to move on the stabilization front,” said Rubio.

Russia slammed the seizure of the Russian-flagged Marinera — calling it a violation of the freedom of the seas, and calling for the crew to be returned home. Though the Trump administration has signaled it may prosecute the sailors.

“It’s both an escalation and more of the same. The United States has been acting militarily in international waters against oil tankers suspected of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil for a few months now,” said Don Kingsbury, a political science professor at the University of Toronto.

These moves follow the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the nighttime American raid over the weekend.

Prime Minister Mark Carney commented on the Venezuela operations this week, calling on all parties to respect international law.

“Canada and its allies in Europe really need to take note and find a different response than to simply repeat ‘but, but, but international law’ – because the United States does not care,” said Kingsbury.

After a congressional briefing on Venezuela, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the U.S. is not engaging in regime change there.

No word on when an election could come.

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