In Rare Naval Standoff, US Destroyer Forces Russian Oil Tanker Into Caribbean U-Turn

A sanctioned Russian oil tanker attempting to deliver fuel to Venezuela has been repeatedly forced to turn back after a US Navy destroyer positioned itself directly in its path, according to vessel-tracking data reviewed by Bloomberg on November 21.

The unusual standoff suggests Washington may be undermining Moscow’s efforts to supply energy to Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

The tanker, Seahorse, part of Russia’s expanding “shadow fleet,” was sailing toward Venezuela on November 13 when the USS Stockdale intercepted its route just off the Venezuelan coast. After the encounter, the Russian tanker abruptly reversed course toward Cuba, while the American destroyer continued past Venezuelan territorial waters toward Puerto Rico.

Tracking data shows the Seahorse has made two additional attempts to approach Venezuela since then—each time turning around when the US warship appeared on its route. As of now, the tanker remains nearly stationary in the Caribbean, making no progress toward any port.

The US Southern Command declined to comment on the destroyer’s movements. The Stockdale has been deployed to the region since late September as part of President Donald Trump’s expanded anti-narcotics mission, operating alongside the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and several accompanying Navy vessels.

The Seahorse is sanctioned by the United Kingdom and the European Union and is one of only four Russian tankers known to have delivered naphtha and other fuels to Venezuela and Cuba—a trade that Moscow uses to circumvent Western sanctions.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russia did not plan to provide military assistance to Venezuela, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

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