US seizes Venezuela-linked oil tanker

The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday, after chasing the vessel across the ocean as it headed toward Europe from Venezuela, one U.S. and one European official confirmed to POLITICO.

The seizure of the tanker Wednesday morning, originally known as the Bella-1, comes more than a week after it maneuvered through a U.S. Navy blockade of sanctioned tankers leaving port in Venezuela. The ship switched its registration to a Russian-flagged vessel during the chase, setting up a possible diplomatic row with Moscow.