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Russia has deployed a submarine and different naval vessels to escort an empty, ageing lipid tanker that has been trying to evade the U.S. blockade adjacent Venezuela, the Wall Street Journal reported connected Tuesday (January 6, 2026), citing a U.S. official.
The tanker, formerly known arsenic Bella 1, has been evading interception since the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to committee and prehend it successful December, pursuing Washington’s blockade of sanctioned lipid shipments to and from Venezuela.
Russia has asked the U.S. to halt pursuing the vessel, the Journal said, citing 3 other U.S. officials.
Reuters could not instantly verify the report. The White House and the U.S. Coast Guard did not instantly respond to a petition for remark outside regular hours.
On Tuesday (January 6), the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring the concern surrounding the tanker “with concern”, the Journal said, citing Russian State quality bureau RIA.
The U.S. Southern Command, which oversees subject activities successful Latin America and the Caribbean, said successful a station connected X connected Tuesday (January 6) that it “remains acceptable to enactment U.S. Government bureau partners successful lasting against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting done this region.” It did not notation the Journal study oregon the Russian submarine.
The U.S. Coast Guard has continued to way the vessel into the Eastern Atlantic, wherever it is present sailing astir 300 miles southbound of Iceland toward the North Sea, the Journal added, citing AIS positioning.
The tanker changed its sanction to the Marinera and switched its registration to Russia, the Journal said.
U.S. President Donald Trump connected Tuesday (January 6) unveiled a program to refine and merchantability up to 50 cardinal barrels of Venezuelan lipid that had been stuck successful Venezuela nether U.S. blockade, successful a further motion that Washington is coordinating with the Venezuelan authorities since capturing President Nicolas Maduro successful a raid past weekend.
