Venezuela 'Dark Fleet' Tanker Evades US Coast Guard; Russia Sends Submarine Escort

• A Venezuelan 'dark fleet' oil tanker, formerly Bella 1 and now Marinera, evaded the US Coast Guard with a Russian submarine escort, escalating US-Russia tensions.
• The tanker, tracked for weeks near Venezuela, failed to load crude and was pursued into the Atlantic as part of a US crackdown on sanctioned oil shipments.
• Crew resisted US boarding, painted a Russian flag, and re-registered the ship under Russia, complicating US legal authority to seize it.
• Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed concern, while the US military's Southern Command prepared to act against sanctioned vessels.
• The incident coincides with a US-Venezuela oil deal announced by Trump, where 30-50 million barrels will be transferred to the US, potentially reshaping global crude flows.

Why It Matters: US-Russia tensions rise as a Russian-escorted Venezuelan tanker evades US sanctions, impacting global oil politics.