• The US has seized the Marinera, a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela.
• The operation included a two-week pursuit and was conducted under a federal court warrant.
• China and Russia have condemned the seizure as a violation of international law.
• This event follows the US's recent military operations in Venezuela, including the capture of President Maduro.
• US officials claim the seized vessel supports illicit oil shipments in contravention of sanctions.

The United States has successfully seized the Marinera, a Russian-flagged oil tanker previously known as Bella 1, in the North Atlantic following an extensive two-week pursuit. This operation was conducted under a warrant issued by a US federal court and is part of broader US efforts to impose sanctions against oil shipments associated with Venezuela, according to Channel News Asia and AA.

The tanker had evaded prior attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it near Venezuela and switched its registration to Russia while allegedly resisting US interdiction efforts. US European Command confirmed this seizure, stating it was aimed at enforcing sanctions on Venezuelan oil, which are intended to cut off funding to the Venezuelan government, according to South China Morning Post and India Times.

The seizure escalates already heightened tensions between the US and Russia, which deployed a submarine in an apparent effort to protect the tanker. Russian officials have criticized the US actions as "unilateral" and a breach of international law, asserting that the ship complied with maritime norms, as noted by AA and South China Morning Post.

This incident follows a recent military operation by US forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and raise stakes surrounding the country's vast oil reserves. President Donald Trump has indicated that Venezuela will be providing significant oil shipments to the US, claiming they would benefit both nations. These developments come amidst China's condemnation of the actions as violating international standards, highlighting growing geopolitical divisions, according to BBC and India Times.