US hands back Russian tanker from shadow fleet to Venezuela for first time - Reuters
Officials did not disclose the reason for handing over the tanker (Photo: Getty Images)
The US has handed over a tanker from Russia’s shadow fleet to Venezuela. The vessel was seized in early January 2026, marking the first known instance of the Trump administration returning such a tanker, reports Reuters.
Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the ship in question is the M/T Sophia, a supertanker flying the Panamanian flag. However, they did not specify the reason for returning the vessel.
The US Coast Guard, which oversees interception and seizure operations, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Background
The US has been conducting operations to intercept oil tankers linked to Venezuela for several months. Since late 2025, seven tankers have been seized.
Specifically, the Sophia was intercepted on January 7 by the US Coast Guard and American military forces. At the time, the Trump administration stated that the Sophia, under sanctions, was a stateless tanker belonging to the sanctioned shadow fleet. On the same day, another tanker, Marinera, was also seized.
Trump focused his Latin American foreign policy on Venezuela, initially aiming to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Failing to find a diplomatic solution, Trump ordered US forces to enter the country and capture Maduro and his wife on the night of January 3.
Since then, he has stated that the US plans to maintain indefinite control over Venezuela’s oil resources, aiming to revive the country’s struggling oil industry as part of a $100 million plan.
