US seizes Russian-flagged tanker, another tied to Venezuela as Trump widens oil push

The US Coast Guard and military forces seized the Marinera crude oil tanker on Wednesday, ending a weeks-long Atlantic chase after the vessel evaded boarding and switched to Russia’s flag, officials said.

The US seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, one sailing under Russia’s flag, as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to dictate oil flows in the Americas and force Venezuela’s socialist government to become an ally.