US seizes two Venezuela-linked tankers, one Russian-flagged

The US military has reported that it has seized two Venezuela-linked ships in international waters.

A video was posted by the US Southern Command (Southcom) of the apprehension of what it says is a "stateless, sanctioned dark fleet" motor tanker.

The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea, Southcom said: "Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere."

As ABC reports, the US European Command (Eucom) earlier also announced the seizure of another oil tanker, the Russian-flagged Marinera (originally the Bella-1), in the North Atlantic. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the US Coast Guard boarded the two “ghost fleet” tankers in a "meticulously coordinated" operation, reports the BBC.  She said the vessels were "either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it".

Stephen Grootes gets some insight from international relations analyst Thembisa Fakude.

"This, now, is very concerning because this is a country that has just annexed another country; and as promised by Donald Trump, Marco Rubio (US Secretary of State) and others that they were going to control oil exports out of Venezuela, and this is what we see happening."

Fakude notes that the Marinera was being escorted by a Russian submarine - and now we are 'at daggers drawn'.

Reuters reports via Tass that the Russian Foreign Ministry is demanding that Washington ensure humane treatment of the Russian crew members and their swift return home.

When asked about the possibility of retaliation by Moscow, Fakude highlights the embarrassment he says that government will be facing in light of this.

"Not only was their biggest ally in the hemisphere kidnapped by Trump and taken to court in the US, now you have vessels bearing their flag confiscated by the US President and redirected - that will be extremely embarrassing to Russia's Vladimir Putin and he has to at some point save face and we don't know what he's going to do."

For more insight into an apparent Russia-US standoff, listen to the interview audio at the top of the article