The Marinera is historically associated with transporting Venezuelan crude oil, though it is currently not carrying any cargo. The US Coast Guard previously attempted to board the Bella 1 last month in the Caribbean, acting on a warrant to seize the ship for allegedly violating US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. The ship then changed course and its name.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, particularly regarding oil sanctions. Last month, former President Donald Trump announced a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move the Venezuelan government denounced as "theft." Trump had also repeatedly accused the Venezuelan government of using ships to transport drugs to the US.

The US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry in an effort to pressure the government of Nicolás Maduro. These sanctions prohibit US companies and individuals from doing business with Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA. The US government argues that these sanctions are necessary to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela.

The Russian government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the deployment of its navy ships. The current location of the Marinera and the intentions of the US forces remain unclear. The situation is developing and further updates are expected.