Russia responds after US seized two Venezuelan oil tankers in Europe and the Caribbean: Live updates

The Russian Ministry of Transport said that contact was lost with the tanker seized by the United States in the North Atlantic when American troops boarded the ship.

The ministry said on December 24 that the tanker ‘received temporary permission to fly the flag of the Russian Federation, which is issued in accordance with Russian law and international law’.

Before the seizure, the Russian Foreign Ministry had announced that it was ‘following with concern the abnormal situation developing around the Russian oil tanker Marinera’.

When US troops seized the ship, the transport ministry said it was ‘outside the territorial waters of any state’ and that ‘contact with the ship had been lost’.

Immediately afterwards, Russian officials, citing the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, stated: ‘No state has the right to use force against ships duly registered in the jurisdiction of other states.’

UK Ministry of Defense confirmed Guard British troops supported the seizure of a US oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

The Ministry said, “The United Kingdom provided the necessary support upon the US request to intervene in the Bella 1 ship today.”

‘The UK Armed Forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing, to US military assets intercepting Bella 1 in the UK-Iceland-Greenland gap following a US request for assistance. RFA Tideforce provided support to US forces pursuing and intercepting Bella 1, while the RAF provided aerial surveillance support.

‘The UK-US defense and security relationship is the deepest in the world and the UK has provided support in full compliance with international law.’

Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on NATO allies just hours after America seized a Russian-flagged tanker in European waters.

The President wrote on Truth Social: ‘Remember, all the big NATO fans, they were at 2% of GDP and most of them weren’t paying their bills until I came along. The USA was stupidly paying the price for these! Sincerely, I brought them to 5% of GDP AND THEY PAY immediately.

‘Everyone said it couldn’t be done, but it could be done because, after all, they are all my friends. If it were not for my participation, Russia would now have ALL of UKRAINE. And don’t forget, I single-handedly ENDED 8 WARS, and Norway, a NATO member, foolishly chose not to give me the Noble Peace Prize. But that doesn’t matter! What matters is that I saved Millions of Lives.

The next man on Donald Trump’s hit list in Venezuela appears to be the official in charge of the country’s security forces.

Interior, Justice and Peace Minister Diosdado Cabello filed the notice, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The ultimatum he faces is to assist Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, with whom President Trump says he is cooperating, to meet U.S. demands and restore order following the capture and extradition of Nicolas Maduro.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US would identify and regulate ‘legal energy trade’ from Venezuela.

“The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet ships illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illegal activities by stealing from the Venezuelan people,” he wrote on X.

‘Only legitimate and legal energy trade determined by the USA will be allowed.’

Donald Trump called out NATO in a lengthy Truth Social post on Wednesday morning after the US military confirmed it had seized two Venezuela-bound oil tankers.

The President said that Russia and China ‘have no fear of NATO without the United States’.

‘The only nation China and Russia fear and respect is the USA, WHICH DJT REBUILD, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!’ he wrote.

Trump added: ‘We will always be with NATO, even if they are not with us.’

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the US military seized a succession of oil tankers in the North Atlantic and Caribbean this morning.

In a post on X, Noem explained that both ships last docked in or were headed to Venezuela.

‘One of these tankers, Motor Tanker Bella I, has been trying to evade the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing its flag and painting a new name on the hull while being pursued, in a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to evade justice,’ he wrote.

‘The heroic crew of the USCGC Munro pursued this ship through high seas and treacherous storms; he kept a vigilant guard and protected our country with the determination and patriotism that makes Americans proud. These brave men and women deserve our nation’s gratitude for their selfless devotion to duty.

‘The criminals of the world are on guard. You can run but you can’t hide. We will never abandon our mission to protect the American people and prevent the financing of narco terrorism wherever we find it.’

A US air force plane was seen leaving an air base in the United Kingdom after US European Command confirmed the military had seized a Venezuela-bound sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

A Daily Mail poll has revealed what American voters believe President Donald Trump’s main motivation for military action in Venezuela is.

Donald Trump announced a deal with the Venezuelan regime to deliver 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, worth up to $2 billion.

The president has made clear that last weekend’s military operation to oust leader Nicolas Maduro was in part an attempt to extract some of the shares of oil-rich Venezuela.

“I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will transfer between 30 and 50 MILLION BARRIES of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil to the United States,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez previously served as Maduro’s Minister of Petroleum and Hydrocarbons.

Trump also announced that he would retain control of money from oil sales, which could be worth up to $2 billion at market price, according to Reuters.

‘This Oil will be sold at the Market Price and this money will be controlled by me as President of the United States to ensure that it is used for the benefit of Venezuela and the people of the United States!’

U.S. Southern Command announced the seizure of a separate oil tanker in the Caribbean on Wednesday morning.

“In a pre-dawn operation this morning, the War Department, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, detained a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident,” US Southern Command wrote in X.

‘The banned ship M/T Sophia was operating in international waters and carrying out illegal activities in the Caribbean Sea. The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition.

‘The War Department remains uncompromising in its mission to crush illegal activities in the Western Hemisphere through Operation Southern Lance. ‘We will defend our homeland and restore security and power in the Americas.’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the blockade of Venezuelan oil was ‘in full force’ after the US military seized an oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

‘The blockade of sanctioned and illegal Venezuelan oil continues in FULL EFFECT everywhere around the world,’ Hegseth wrote on X.