U.S. military forces seized two oil tankers on Wednesday, one of which was Russian-flagged, escalating tensions with Moscow following the ouster of its ally, Nicolás Maduro, in Venezuela. The seizure occurred in the North Atlantic, between Scotland and Iceland, according to a statement released by the U.S. military, which cited violations of U.S. sanctions as the reason for the action.

The Russian Ministry of Transport confirmed the boarding of the vessel, previously known as the Bella 1 and recently renamed the Marinera, in international waters, adding that contact with the ship had been lost. The vessel was not carrying oil at the time of the seizure but had reportedly been attempting to reach Venezuela to load crude oil, evading U.S. forces for over two weeks. A separate statement from the military indicated the apprehension of a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker, identified as the M Soph.

These actions took place hours after the U.S. Secretary of State outlined a plan for Venezuela's future, suggesting the United States would maintain control over interim authorities. This plan and the tanker seizures signal a continued U.S. focus on Venezuela and its oil resources, particularly in light of potential shifts in global energy markets.

The seizures raise questions about the application of international law in maritime contexts and the extent to which nations can enforce sanctions beyond their territorial waters. The use of "dark fleets," vessels that operate without transmitting identifying information to avoid detection, highlights the challenges in monitoring and enforcing sanctions regimes. The incident also underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States and Russia, particularly concerning Venezuela.

The current status of the seized vessels and their crews remains unclear. Further details are expected to emerge as the U.S. military and relevant government agencies conduct investigations and potentially pursue legal action. The Russian government's response and any potential retaliatory measures will be closely watched for their impact on international relations and energy markets.