NYT: Russia asks US to halt pursuit of oil tanker Bella 1

Russia has formally asked the United States to halt its pursuit of an oil tanker that was bound for Venezuela and is now attempting to evade the US Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The diplomatic appeal was sent late on New Year’s Eve to the US State Department, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the communication was not public, The New York Times (NYT) reports.

The standoff over the tanker comes at a sensitive moment, as President Trump has been seeking to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine while publicly voicing frustration over his failure to bring the conflict to an end.

Moscow’s request for Washington to stop chasing the vessel could introduce a new complication into those diplomatic efforts and further strain relations between the two countries, particularly over Venezuela.

US authorities have been monitoring the tanker, known as the Bella 1, for almost two weeks. The ship departed from Iran and was heading toward Venezuela to load oil when American forces attempted to intercept and board it in the Caribbean Sea. US officials said the vessel was not operating under a valid national flag, rendering it stateless under international law and therefore subject to boarding. They also said they had obtained a seizure warrant. The crew, however, refused to comply and redirected the ship toward the Atlantic.

Since then, the vessel has sought to place itself under Russian protection. Crew members painted a Russian flag on the hull and informed the Coast Guard by radio that they were sailing under Russian authority. The Bella 1 has since appeared in Russia’s official ship registry under a new name, Marinera, listing Sochi on the Black Sea as its home port.

The White House declined to comment publicly. A US official, speaking anonymously about an ongoing law enforcement operation, said the Trump administration continues to regard the tanker as “stateless” because it was flying a false flag at the time of its initial encounter with the Coast Guard. The State Department and the Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While Russia’s claim to protect the vessel may have limited standing under international law, its diplomatic involvement could complicate US efforts to seize the ship, which are rooted in Washington’s broader confrontation with Venezuela.

President Trump has imposed what amounts to a partial blockade on certain oil tankers transporting Venezuelan crude as part of an effort to pressure President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Oil exports, largely destined for China, remain a crucial source of revenue for Venezuela. To date, US forces have boarded and taken control of two other tankers in the Caribbean, and American officials have indicated that further seizures are planned.

In response, Maduro has instructed the Venezuelan Navy to escort some departing tankers and has considered deploying troops aboard the vessels, raising the risk of a direct confrontation with US forces on international waters.

Last week, during a phone call between the foreign ministers of Venezuela and Russia, Moscow “reaffirmed its all-out support and solidarity with the leaders and people of Venezuela,” according to a statement released by Russia’s foreign ministry.

By Jeyhun Aghazada