Tensions have heightened globally as reports indicate that Russia has dispatched a submarine and additional naval vessels to accompany an oil tanker near the coast of Venezuela, as per the Wall Street Journal.
The previously named Bella 1, now identified as the Marinera, a derelict oil tanker, has been evading a US blockade of sanctioned tankers near Venezuela for over two weeks, according to the Express. Allegedly part of the “shadow fleet” involved in illegal oil transportation, the vessel was unsuccessful in loading oil in Venezuela.
The US Coast Guard’s pursuit of the tanker into the Atlantic is part of a broader crackdown on the illicit global oil trade, which includes the sale of black-market petroleum by Russia, as reported by the WSJ.
President Donald Trump revealed on his Truth Social platform that Venezuela is set to transfer between 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the US. He stated that the oil would be sold at market prices and the proceeds would be managed to benefit both Venezuelan and American citizens. The White House is arranging a meeting with major oil companies, including Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, to discuss Venezuela.
This development follows the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilla Flores, 69, by a specialized US military unit in an early morning operation on January 3. The arrest has raised concerns about potential conflicts, especially since Maduro had faced charges related to drug and terrorism offenses in a New York court in 2020.