Russian fuel ship diverts course as US warship patrols Caribbean

A sanctioned Russian oil tanker reportedly altered its course en route to Venezuela after a US warship intersected its path near the country’s coast, raising questions about Washington’s potential to curb Moscow’s energy aid to Caracas.

The vessel, named the Seahorse, was carrying a fuel cargo to Venezuela on November 13 when the US destroyer USS Stockdale positioned itself along its route. The Seahorse subsequently changed course toward Cuba, while the warship sailed near Venezuelan territorial waters en route to Puerto Rico, Bloomberg reports.

“The Seahorse has attempted to approach Venezuela twice since then but turned back both times and remains idling in the Caribbean,” Bloomberg reported.

The intentions of the USS Stockdale regarding the Russian vessel remain unclear, and a spokesperson for US Southern Command declined to comment on the ship’s movements. The destroyer arrived in the Caribbean in late September alongside a dozen other US warships, tasked with supporting President Donald Trump’s anti-narcotics operations in the region.

The Seahorse is under sanctions by the UK and European Union and is one of four Russian vessels supplying naphtha to sanctioned Venezuela. The tanker previously discharged a cargo in late October, traveled to Cuba, and was returning to Venezuela when the US ship intercepted it. Observers noted that its subsequent maneuvers are unusual, as Russian fuel vessels rarely make U-turns or idle on the established trading route between Cuba and Venezuela.

Neither the White House, a Kremlin spokesperson, nor Venezuela’s Information Ministry had responded to requests for comment as of November 20 evening.

While Venezuela previously received naphtha shipments from Chevron during the Biden administration, imports have halted under Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy against Nicolás Maduro. As a result, Caracas now depends on Russian deliveries to meet its fuel needs.

By Vafa Guliyeva