Days after U.S. forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela’s crude exports, two China-flagged supertankers sailing to pick up Venezuelan oil have turned back and are now heading toward Asia, maritime tracking data shows.
The Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) Xingye and Thousand Sunny had been anchored in the Atlantic off Venezuela for weeks awaiting permission to dock and load oil as part of oil-for-debt shipments to China — a long-standing mechanism by which Caracas repays loans with crude.
However, with the U.S. maintaining a strict oil embargo on Venezuela and enforcement actions increasing after the seizure of the Russian tanker, both vessels reversed course, according to LSEG shipping data cited by Reuters.
U.S. Seizes Russian-Flagged Tanker
The U.S. captured a Russian-flagged oil tanker, formerly named Bella 1 and later renamed Marinera, after a prolonged Atlantic pursuit by U.S. forces — an operation that marks a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports under sanctions.
The United States says the seizure was part of enforcing sanctions aimed at curbing illicit oil trade linked to Venezuela; Russia has condemned the action as a violation of international law and called it “piracy”.
Impact on Venezuela’s Oil Trade
Venezuela relies heavily on oil exports — accounting for about 95 % of its export revenue — and China has traditionally been its largest customer. Oil-for-debt arrangements have helped Caracas repay billions of dollars in loans from Beijing over recent years.
The U.S. oil embargo, part of broader sanctions against the Maduro government, aims to restrict crude shipments that could financially benefit Caracas. The decision by Chinese tankers to turn back suggests that tightening enforcement and political pressure are affecting the ability of Venezuelan oil to reach major markets.
The development also comes amid increased sanctions targeting firms and vessels involved in Venezuela’s oil sector, including several Chinese-linked companies and their ships — a move that signals Washington’s determination to limit external support for Maduro’s oil trade.
Broader Geopolitical Signals
The situation highlights the growing geopolitical tensions around Venezuelan oil, with Washington pushing to enforce sanctions more aggressively while key markets such as China navigate between economic interests and compliance pressures. The reversal of the supertankers underscores the uncertainty facing global energy trade routes tied to Venezuelan crude.
