WASHINGTON, D.C.: On January 7, the U.S. seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean, including one flying the Russian flag, adding another point of tension between Washington and Moscow.

Coming on the heels of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid on Caracas late last week, the U.S. escalated its blockade of vessels leaving the South American country, a member of the OPEC oil producers group.

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. military special forces were engaged in a chase that lasted weeks across the Atlantic, which ended on the morning of January 7. With a judicial seizure warrant, they apprehended and boarded the Marinera crude oil tanker, which had refused to be boarded last month before switching to Russia's flag, officials said.

Britain's Royal Air Force and one of its military vessels supported the U.S. operation. British Defence Secretary John Healey said it was part of "global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting."

With a Russian submarine and vessels nearby, the seizure risked more confrontation with Russia, which has condemned U.S. actions over Venezuela and is already at odds with the West due to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment.

"It was a fake Russian oil tanker," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in an interview set to air on Fox News, excerpts of which were provided in advance. "They basically tried to pretend to be a Russian oil tanker in an effort to avoid the sanctions regime."

Earlier, the U.S. Coast Guard stopped another tanker carrying Venezuelan oil near the northeast coast of South America. U.S. officials said this was the fourth seizure in recent weeks. The ship, called M Sophia and flying Panama's flag, was fully loaded, according to Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA.

Another ship, the Marinera (earlier called Bella-1), was empty. But the U.S. says both ships are part of a "shadow fleet" used to move oil from Venezuela and Iran despite sanctions.

A White House official said only oil shipments that follow U.S. law and protect U.S. security will be allowed. He added that Venezuela could grow its energy business through legal trade approved by the U.S.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Marinera's crew tried hard to escape and did not follow Coast Guard orders, so that they could face criminal charges.

The Trump administration was also trying to make a deal with Venezuela to redirect oil meant for China, Venezuela's biggest buyer, and to get access to about $2 billion worth of oil.

China criticized the U.S. actions, calling them bullying and saying the U.S. has no right to control how Venezuela sells its own oil.

Trump has said he wants to control Venezuela's large oil reserves with U.S. oil companies. He has also accused President Maduro of being a drug-trafficking dictator and had him arrested and jailed.