By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) – The United States is trying to take control of an oil tanker connected to Venezuela after chasing it for over two weeks across the Atlantic, according to two U.S. officials.

This action, which might increase tensions with Russia, follows the tanker, once called the Bella-1, managing to evade a U.S. maritime blockade designed for sanctioned vessels and ignoring attempts by the U.S. Coast Guard to board it.

The officials, who requested anonymity, stated that the operation is being conducted by the Coast Guard along with the U.S. military.

They also mentioned that Russian military ships, including a submarine, were present in the area during this operation.

The tanker, now named Marinera and flying the Russian flag, is the latest vessel targeted by the U.S. Coast Guard since President Donald Trump began increasing pressure on Venezuela.

In a related effort, the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted another tanker linked to Venezuela in Latin American waters, as the U.S. maintains its maritime blockade against sanctioned Venezuelan vessels.