In a theatrical display of maritime force, US special forces boarded the Russian-flagged, Venezuelan-owned oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic, with Britain's Royal Air Force providing aerial surveillance. The operation, which took place on Wednesday 7 January 2026, has been labelled an embarrassing farce by critics, highlighting a complex geopolitical performance between world powers.
A Costly Chase for an Empty Vessel
The ageing tanker Marinera was chased across oceans, switching its nationality to Russian mid-voyage and painting Moscow's flag on its hull in an attempt to gain protection. It was shadowed by one of Vladimir Putin's submarines, but this offered no real defence against the seizure. The entire expensive operation, involving RAF P8 Poseidon spy planes and A400M Atlas aircraft, culminated in US forces taking control of a vessel that was, in fact, completely empty of oil.
This incident is part of a broader US crackdown on a 'shadow fleet' of tankers used to evade sanctions. The Marinera had been involved in moving oil from sanctioned nations like Venezuela to China. On the same day, the US revealed it had taken control of another Venezuelan vessel off the coast of South America.
Trump's 'America First' Oil Claims and Global Backlash
Former President Donald Trump took to social media to claim the seized Venezuelan oil would be sold for the "benefit" of both the US and Venezuela, with proceeds controlled by his administration. "This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as president of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!" he posted on Tuesday 6 January.
The move has drawn sharp international criticism. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning condemned the action as a "typical act of bullying." Meanwhile, the Kremlin has loudly protested the seizure and the abduction of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, who remains in a New York jail. Analysts suggest, however, that the public drama of the seizure suits the strategic narratives of both Russia and China, despite their official objections.
The Bigger Picture: Energy, Sanctions and Spheres of Influence
The seizure underscores the high financial stakes of global energy sanctions. Russia funds its war in Ukraine with fossil fuel sales worth about $150 billion a year, with Europe still importing Russian gas worth $10-25 billion annually. The shadow fleet, comprising at least 1,000 ships, moves over 18% of the world's oil from sanctioned countries.
Ultimately, the Marinera incident is seen as a symbolic power play. It demonstrated Trump's ability to enlist a "vassal state" like Britain in a show of force over a strategically insignificant target. As Putin's submarine withdrew, the operation left Britain appearing, in the words of observers, "rather silly" for its supporting role in what was essentially a political spectacle—a storm over a "bucket of rust" in an ocean where empires vie for dominance.
