Russia filed a formal diplomatic protest on New Year’s Eve asking the U.S. to stop pursuing the oil tanker Bella 1, which evaded an attempted Coast Guard seizure on Dec. 21 and now appears on Russia’s ship registry under a new name. Public tracking data place the vessel in the North Atlantic. The pursuit is part of wider U.S. pressure on Venezuela — including a declared blockade, tanker seizures and strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking — and comes amid ongoing U.S.-Russia diplomatic activity.
Russia Files New Year’s Eve Demarche Asking U.S. To Halt Chase Of Tanker Bella 1
Images captured on March 18, 2025, show Bella 1 vessel after US official confirmed the US Coast Guard was in pursuit of an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela. - Hakon Rimmereid/Reuters/File
Russia lodged a formal diplomatic demarche with the U.S. State Department on New Year’s Eve asking Washington to stop pursuing the oil tanker Bella 1, two sources told CNN. The move followed reports that the vessel was added to Russia’s official ship registry under a new name as the note was delivered.
What Happened
U.S. officials say the aging tanker reversed course on Dec. 21 in the Caribbean to avoid an attempted U.S. Coast Guard seizure while it was en route to Venezuela to pick up oil. Publicly available tracking data, first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by CNN sources, show the vessel is now in the North Atlantic.
Diplomatic And Operational Context
The demarche makes clear Moscow is asserting an interest in the vessel; it is uncertain whether the diplomatic protest will stop U.S. efforts to interdict the ship. The White House, the State Department and the Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
Coast Guard pursuit of the Bella 1 is part of a broader U.S. campaign of pressure on Venezuela that has included a declared blockade on sanctioned oil tankers, the seizure of other vessels in December and numerous strikes on boats the U.S. says were involved in drug trafficking. CNN has previously reported a CIA drone strike on a Venezuelan port facility.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was quoted in Vanity Fair as saying President Trump wanted to "keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle," a remark critics say underscores a broader regime-change aim beyond strictly anti-narcotics objectives.
Broader Diplomatic Picture
The Russian démarche arrived as the Trump administration — which has held two calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past week, according to U.S. officials — continues efforts to press Russia on its war in Ukraine. Analysts say the incident highlights how maritime enforcement, sanctions and diplomacy can collide in high-stakes geopolitical contests.
Note: This report draws on accounts from CNN and The New York Times and incorporates publicly available vessel-tracking information.
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