The United States on Wednesdayseized a Russian-flagged oil tankerin the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the coast ofVenezuela, in an operation set to ratchet up tensions withMoscow.

US officials say the tanker is part of a so-called shadow fleet that carries oil for countries such as Venezuela,RussiaandIranin violation of USsanctions.

The ship had thwarted an earlier attempt to board it last month near Venezuela, where a US raid on Saturday toppled the country's authoritarian president,Nicolas Maduro.

"The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court," US European Command, which oversees American forces in the region, said in a statement on X.

After the operation,PentagonchiefPete Hegsethposted that the US blockade on Venezuelan oil was in full effect "anywhere in the world."

Shortly after confirming the successful North Atlantic seizure, theUS militaryannounced a second sanctioned tanker ship had been seized in the Caribbean Sea.

Read moreLive: US military says it seized two sanctioned oil tankers in North Atlantic and Caribbean

US special forces at theweekend snatched Maduro and his wifefrom Caracas and flew them to New York toface trial on drug charges.

Since then, Trump has said that the United States will "run" Venezuela and US companies will control its critical oil industry.

The North Atlantic operation came despite Russia sending a submarine to escort the empty tanker, saying the vessel was sailing under the Russian flag and was far from the US coast.

"For reasons unclear to us, the Russian vessel is receiving heightened attention from the US andNATOmilitaries attention that is clearly disproportionate to its peaceful status," Russia's foreign ministry said, prior to the seizure.

Venezuelan oil

The vessel, formerly known as the Bella-1, switched its registration to Russia, changed its name to the Marinera and the tanker's crew reportedly painted a Russian flag on the tanker.

The tanker had been en route to the South American country but was not carrying cargo before it evaded the US blockade. It has been under US sanctions since 2024 over alleged ties to Iran andHezbollah.

Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will hand over tens of millions of barrels of oil to the United States after Maduro was seized.

Trump said 3050 million barrels of "highquality, sanctioned" Venezuelan crude will be shipped to US ports, with the revenue perhaps more than $2 billion at current market prices placed under his personal control.

It was not clear whether Venezuela's new ruler interim presidentDelcy Rodriguezhad agreed to hand over the oil, how the plan would work, or what its legal basis would be.

Interim president Rodriguez a long-time member of Maduro's inner circle as vice president and energy minister has vowed cooperation with the United States amid fears that Trump could persue wider regime change.

Trump has said Washington is now "in charge" of the South American nation and has vowed a new doctrine of US dominance in the western hemisphere.

Read moreTrumps risky gamble: Can the US 'run' Venezuela after Maduro's capture?

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Originally published on France24