US seizes Russian-flagged tanker, another tied to Venezuela as Trump widens oil push

Key Points

• The US seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic, one under the Russian flag, as part of an effort to control oil flows in the Americas.
• The Marinera tanker was apprehended after switching flags and avoiding boarding, while the M Sophia tanker was intercepted near South America loaded with Venezuelan oil.
• The US is rolling back some sanctions on Venezuelan oil to enable the sale of 30 to 50 million barrels, aiming to revive Venezuela's declining oil sector under American terms.
• The seizure and the US push have drawn criticism from China, Russia, and Venezuela's allies, with concerns over the precedent of capturing a foreign head of state.