Two U.S. intelligence officials said Venezuelan officials had discussed placing Soviet-era defense systems and armed military personnel on tankers — disguising them as civilians for defense purposes.

The U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, after pursuing it for more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washington's efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports,

US forces are attempting to “seize” a Venezuela-linked oil tanker surrounded by a Russian escort, in what could see Donald Trump risk a dispute with Vladimir Putin.