By Elizabeth Lane - January 8, 2026

This should alarm every American. Let me be clear: I liked Trump. I supported him. I still do in many ways, I think he’s been better than the last four presidents combined. But that doesn’t mean he’s infallible. On this issue, I think he’s seriously misguided!

The U.S. quietly imposed what amounts to a partial naval blockade on Venezuela banning sanctioned tankers from the region and reserving the right to seize them. Two ships get taken. A third one, Bella 1, bolts. Registers as Russian, slaps a Russian flag on its side, changes its name, and instantly upgrades from stateless scrap metal to under Moscow’s protection.

That should’ve been the off-ramp. Instead, the U.S. takes it anyway, near Iceland, no less. Russia warns Washington not to touch it. Washington shrugs and does it anyway. Bad idea! This wasn’t about enforcing sanctions. It was about testing boundaries from the US and people are getting sick of it. I know I am.

And to understand why, you have to understand the so-called “dark fleet.” After Ukraine, Russia was cut out of Western shipping, insurance, and logistics. So Moscow adapted. Old tankers. No insurance. No flag. Over a thousand of them quietly moving – unfairly sanctioned oil by the country that doesn’t even respect its own rules(The US) – from Russia, Iran, Venezuela keeping those economies breathing. Not thriving, while the US tries to destroy them with sections because that’s what we do and then we claim we care about people in those countries, knowing rich are never hurt by the sections ever.

For the U.S., these ships are leverage. Crack the fleet, squeeze Russia and Iran. That part is obvious. What’s less obvious but far more important is . . .

[SNIP]