Why has Trump seized a Russian-linked oil tanker? – The Latest

特朗普为何扣押了一艘与俄罗斯有关的油轮?——最新动态

Today in Focus

2026-01-08

9 分钟
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The US has dramatically seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker between the UK and Iceland, with the support of the UK government. The operation comes after US attacks on Venezuela, the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro, and threats against Greenland. Lucy Hough speaks to Russian affairs correspondent Pjotr Sauer – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
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  • This is The Guardian.

  • Putin and Trump have had a pretty warm relationship.

  • The big question is whether this incident could finally fracture their romance.

  • Two oil tankers, two overnight.

  • or seized by the United States of America, a state list or sanction.

  • The President, when he speaks, he means it, means it.

  • He's not messing around.

  • It still comes as a surprise that they decided to board it and seize it just

  • because it risks such a big confrontation with Russia.

  • Why the US has seized two sanctioned oil tankers,

  • including one in European waters with support from the UK.

  • From the Guardians today in Focus, this is the latest with me, Lucy Hoff.

  • I'm joined by Piotr Sauer, who's our Russia affairs correspondent.

  • Thanks for being with us, Piotr.

  • So it's been a really dramatic hour or so.

  • Two ships seized by the US,

  • one in the North Atlantic off the coast of Iceland, the other in the Caribbean.

  • That first one seems particularly interesting.

  • Give me a breakdown of what's happened.

  • The seizures are part of Donald Trump's larger campaign to capture Venezuelan linked ships after he announced a blockade on all ships going in and out of Venezuela.