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The Situation Room

U.S. Seizes Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship; U.K. Provides Support in U.S. Seizure of Bella 1; U.S. Discusses Options for Acquiring Greenland. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired January 07, 2026 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:30:00]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: We are following major breaking news this morning. The U.S. has seized the Bella 1. This is a Russian flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And we're also learning that the U.S. has apprehended a stateless sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker in the Caribbean also linked to Venezuela. Officials now say it was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities.

Joining us now to discuss what's going on. CNN military analyst, the retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton. Good morning, Colonel.

BROWN: Yes. And Colonel, one of the big questions right now is about, you know, this escalation and what the significance of it is. How are you looking at this?

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST AND U.S. AIR FORCE: Yes, this could be a very significant development, Pamela. And one of the things to look at is the relationship with Russia here, because not only was this a Russian-flagged tanker but the Russians sent a submarine and some other vessels to try to protect the tankers. So, you have to wonder what were they trying to protect? What were they trying to hide? And also, what kinds of things were they trying to move around and -- as part of that shadow fleet that we talk about so often, you know, the shadow fleet of all the oil tankers that has, of course, been an object of our interest ever since Venezuela started getting on the news deadlines?

BLITZER: And we're now learning, just coming into the Situation Room, that the U.K. actually helped the U.S. provided information on the seizure of the Bella 1 oil tanker.

LEIGHTON: Yes. Yes. The U.K. had a very significant role to play in this from what we can see because they have a lot of the maritime intelligence capabilities in and around the North Sea and the North Atlantic. So, that allowed them to track the tanker as well as help the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy approached the tanker because they had positioning data on it, and that allowed the U.S. Navy and the Coast Guard to take action today.

BLITZER: The U.S., as you know, had been pursuing this Russian- flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela, we're told for some time. During which the vessel appeared on Russia's official register of ships under a new name. Could we potentially see a response from Russia because of this seizure? What do you think?

LEIGHTON: I think so, Wolf. And I think one of the things that we have to look out for is some kind of asymmetric response. So, that could mean an intensification of the hybrid war that Russia is already pursuing in Europe.

[10:35:00]

Things like power outages that all of a sudden show up like we had one in Berlin just a few days ago. You have cyber-attacks as a possibility, drone attacks, assassinations. All of those kinds of things can happen as a result of the Russians trying to respond to this and they have the assets in place, in Europe especially, to do those kinds of things. The other aspect I think is going to be felt when it comes to the Ukraine ceasefire talks, peace talks, whatever we're calling them right now, because that is going to be a significant relationship point for the Russians and the United States.

And if the Russians balk at anything that has been proposed vis-a-vis Ukraine, that could be part of the, you know, fallout from this particular seizure of the Bella 1.

BROWN: Is this about oil, in your view, or is there something more to these seizures?

LEIGHTON: Well, it's in part about oil, but it's also part of what seems to be a new great power competition between the various powers. You know, what we have, you know, with the national security strategy that was promulgated a few weeks ago or about a month ago by the administration, you have this movement, this retrenchment to the Western Hemisphere with quite a few exceptions. And I think it's going to be unrealistic for us to retrench completely from other parts of the world besides the Western Hemisphere.

But clearly, the administration, the Trump administration is exerting control or trying to exert control over the Western Hemisphere, especially through the actions in and around Venezuela. And now, we're talking about Greenland and things like that. So, there's this great power competition that's afoot right now, and this is part of that effort. The tankers are, in essence, a proxy for that great power competition.

BLITZER: And the Energy Secretary, the U.S. Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, now says that the U.S. is going to control the cash gained from Venezuela's oil. What could this mean for U.S. broader intentions in Venezuela?

LEIGHTON: Well, it could mean, Wolf, that we're looking at a business relationship here. In other words, instead of, you know, oil companies going in there, extracting the oil, paying Venezuelan taxes and any other fees that the Venezuelans would impose, you've got a situation where the revenues from the oil go directly into U.S. potentially government coffers. I'm not sure what, you know, Secretary Wright's actual position on that is, but it seems like the U.S. is going to be profiting from this, or at least trying to profit from this. There are going to be a lot of things that are going to get in the way of that, but that at least seems to be the intention right now.

BLITZER: Yes, we're talking about millions and millions and many millions of dollars because Venezuela has so much oil. Colonel Cedric Leighton, thank you very, very much.

Coming up, right at the top of the next hour, the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a briefing alongside Trump cabinet members. We're going to bring it to you live once it begins.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:40:00]

BROWN: Breaking news, CNN is learning that the United Kingdom provided support to the U.S. in seizing the Venezuela-linked, Russian- flagged oil tanker named Bella 1. I want to go straight to CNN's Clare Sebastian. Clare, what more are you learning about this?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Pamela, we have a new statement out from the U.K. defense minister saying that the U.K. Armed Forces provided what he called pre-planned operational support, including basing -- sorry, so sort of allowing U.S. assets to be based in U.K. bases. And then the RAF apparently also provided surveillance support from the air. So, Defense Secretary John Healey here in the U.K. is saying that this was part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting. And he said that this ship, the Bella 1, which of course renamed to the Marinera and re-flagged under a Russian flag, he said the ship with a nefarious history is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion, which is fueling terrorism, conflict and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.

The U.K. has, of course, been very active in sanctioning shadow fleet vessels and trying to crack down on sanctions evasion. It's had to deal with Russian sort of naval activity in the waters of the U.K. as well. So, this is a topic that is front and center here in the U.K., but clearly, very practical support provided to the U.S. for this very sophisticated operation to now seize this Russian-flagged vessel. It was seized, we think, about 190 miles off the southern coast of Iceland, Pamela.

BROWN: All right. Clare Sebastian, bringing us the latest there. Thank you so much. And here to discuss that and more is Ambassador Thomas Shannon, the former ambassador to Brazil. He is a former undersecretary of state and also served as political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela. And he now serves as international policy advisor at the Washington law firm Arnold & Porter. Ambassador, nice to have you with us.

So, what does this tell you, these seizures tell you about the United States foreign policy priorities right now, in addition to what we just saw happen with Maduro?

THOMAS SHANNON, FORMER POLITICAL COUNSELOR, U.S. EMBASSY IN VENEZUELA, FORMER UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY ADVISER, ARNOLD & PORTER: Well, the seizure of this tanker is part of a larger effort to stop ghost ships and stop black market transfers of oil. And it's something the president and this administration has committed himself and itself to. It's dramatic in terms of the way it's being done. And it generates a potential confrontation with Russia, with China, with Iran and others who are benefiting from this kind of activity.

[10:45:00]

But the role that the U.K. has played and the role that others have and will play in this is important in an effort to create greater transparency in the flow of oil and gas through the international markets, but especially the revenues that come from them.

BLITZER: And you're an expert in the area. I just wanted to get your sense because the Trump administration, as you know, is framing Maduro's capture as a U.S. Justice Department operation that was supported by the U.S. military. How do you see it?

SHANNON: Well, it was an effort to execute a warrant, although Delta Force commandos are not U.S. marshals. And this was done in an obviously unusual way with a lot of violence, a lot of death. And at the end of the day, what we have here is not an effort at regime change, but an effort at leadership change in Venezuela and an effort to create some kind of government in Venezuela that would be more compliant with what President Trump is trying to accomplish in the region.

BLITZER: And as you know, Ambassador, on a similar note, the Trump administration has justified its actions in Venezuela. They've been very dramatic by saying it's all about stopping drugs and gangs. But how much of this is about other issues and how much of it is actually about oil?

SHANNON: It's a combination. The drug part is important, but Venezuela is only a transit point in drug trafficking. Most of the cocaine in the region is produced in Colombia. The fentanyl is produced in Mexico from chemicals that are brought in from China. And then they're transported either across our southwest border or up through the eastern Pacific or through Central America. So, the drug trafficking part is a part of this component.

But it's evident from what we're seeing right now that the president is focusing on oil and gas and focusing on trying to generate a Venezuela that will attract Venezuelans who are now in exile back into Venezuela, generate growth in the Venezuelan economy, and then create a partner that we can work with in a more helpful way and one that's consonant with U.S. interests.

But here's the challenge, the regime that we're working with now is what's left over after Nicolas Maduro leaves. And there's no indication that other than the immediate concessions they're going to make to survive, that they are going to be a useful partner.

BROWN: Right. I mean, that's one of the outstanding questions, right? Because President Trump has said that he's running Venezuela. He's in control of Venezuela. But there must be massive challenges to that, considering the fact that Maduro's number two is the one who has been sworn in as president.

SHANNON: No, there will be. And it's important to understand that this is a government that over more than 25 years, first with Hugo Chavez and then Nicolas Maduro, have created a state which is Chavista. It's committed to an ideology. It's committed to an approach. And however corrupt and criminalized it has become over time, they still understand themselves in revolutionary terms. And they see themselves as the last remnants of South American anti- imperialists. And I just do not see them being helpful partners in the long-term.

BLITZER: Very curious. What do you think of all this talk of taking over Greenland?

SHANNON: You know, in 1951, the United States and Greenland -- and Denmark concluded a security cooperation agreement about Greenland, which allows U.S. troops to be present in Greenland and pretty much allows us to do what we want to do militarily.

So, in terms of the security value of Greenland, we've already locked that down. There's something bigger at play here. And some of it has to do with critical minerals or the possible presence of critical minerals in Greenland. Some of it has to do with the opening of sea lanes as climate change begins to melt, Arctic ice flows. And some of it has to do with the recognition that the Arctic is going to be an area of strategic conflict and competition, especially with Russia and China.

But what is difficult for the Europeans to understand, our partners, our NATO partners, is that we already have the tools necessary to protect ourselves, to protect Greenland, and to protect the transatlantic relationship as we compete with Russia and China in the Arctic. And for some reason, the administration has decided that only if we control it in some kind of sovereign sense can the United States actually trust the nature of that security relationship.

BLITZER: Yes. Denmark, a founding member of NATO and one of the original NATO partners, has made it clear if the U.S. wants to send more troops into Greenland, that's fine.

SHANNON: No, I think the Danes are prepared to make any number of concessions to meet U.S. security concerns and to guarantee the United States that Denmark and its NATO partners are prepared to work with the United States in securing the Arctic. But this is something that President Trump at this point in time is not prepared to accept.

BROWN: As we zoom out and look at all of this big picture, I mean, are we witnessing a major shift in the world order as we know it? And if so, is there any going back?

SHANNON: Well, it's certainly a major shift in how the United States understands the world order and how the United States understands itself in the world.

[10:50:00]

To a certain extent, the Trump administration is stepping away from being a global hegemon to being a regional hegemon, to one which focuses entirely on our near neighborhood and how we protect the immediate access points to the United States for both commercial reasons and security reasons. And although the United States still has the ability to strike militarily anywhere at any time, it no longer has the ability to, at least in the mind of President Trump, to be an ordering mechanism for the world. It's too costly. And therefore, this is really a pullback.

BLITZER: I'm just curious, because you served as the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, a major ally, friend of the United States in South America. How do the people there, not just in Brazil, but in South America, Central America, view the Trump administration's policies right now when it comes to Venezuela and Greenland and other sensitive issues?

SHANNON: The region is fragmented. There are some countries that are closely aligned with the Trump administration and with the United States on this approach, especially Argentina, for one, but also some of the Caribbean countries that have experienced the criminality that has come out of drug trafficking through the greater Caribbean. But countries like Brazil and Mexico are very vocally opposed to what's happening.

And this is going to complicate our relationship in the region. But maybe more importantly, it's going to complicate what comes next in Venezuela. Because remember, Venezuela, the Caribbean is only one side of Venezuela. Colombia, Peru, and Brazil are the other borders, along with Guyana. And absent some kind of allied coalition around Venezuela, contain it, it's going to be difficult to manage Venezuela in the way that President Trump wants to.

BROWN: Yes, the Energy Secretary, Christopher Wright, has said that the U.S. will essentially profit off the oil in Venezuela and that it will be in control of any money that comes from oil in Venezuela. But there's a lot of hurdles, right, to take the oil from Venezuela and actually, you know, make money off of it.

SHANNON: No, that's true. And that's not, we're not in the business of that.

BROWN: Right. I mean, how significant is that? I mean, just in principle.

SHANNON: It's very significant because at the end of the day, the oil was there for our taking anyway. Chevron was already there producing. And through our OFAC, our Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control licensing processes, we choose, the United States chooses what oil companies work in Venezuela, what oil service providers work in Venezuela. And so, if we wanted to open up that market to American producers, we could do it with just a signature.

BLITZER: Ambassador Thomas Shannon, thanks so much. We appreciate your expertise.

SHANNON: Thank you very much.

BLITZER: And we'll have more news right after a quick break.

BROWN: Thank you.

SHANNON: Thank you both.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:55:00]

BROWN: All right. We're going to listen in to Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican and White House ally, after this briefing on Venezuela. Let's listen.

SEN. MARKWAYNE MULLIN (R-OK), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: To hold him accountable for the men and women he's killed on our streets by poisoning them. So, it was well worth it. What happens next with the government? You know, we're going to let the Venezuelan people choose that. Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you hear anything that would give you an indication that American boots on the ground might be necessary if there are reports of violence sporadically?

MULLIN: There is no boots on the ground right now. And there -- but let me tell you, we have contingency plans all around the world just in case something does happen. I'm not speaking specifically to any plan, but I'm just saying that's what we do. We always have contingency plans to keep the American interest and our country safe.

And so, what I just reiterate this, the president and this administration is putting a heavy emphasis on the Western Hemisphere. For 25 years, we have focused elsewhere. We are now focused on our backyard and we should be. Yes, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was Cuba discussed at all in the briefing? And what comes next for Cuba --

MULLIN: The only thing that -- Cuba was not addressed. The only thing was talked about was the Cuban security force that was in ground. And what happened when they tried to engage with our men and women, which didn't end up very well for them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, is the seizing of this Russian-flagged ship a direct challenge to Vladimir Putin?

MULLIN: Well, I would say that they claimed it was their ship. That's all I'm going to say. They claimed it was their ship. But obviously, they didn't engage because there's a little bit of bravado that took place.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But how might this be interpreted?

MULLIN: It's not. We had made it very clear that there was no oil going in and out. This is our hemisphere, not Russia's. If they're going to operate here, we'll know they're operating here and they will not call our bluff. We will stand up strong to them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not just your hemisphere, is it?

MULLIN: Well, it's the Western Hemisphere and there's no army -- or Navy that's going to protect it better than we will. We're protecting our interests. Russia is not going to operate here open and freely, period.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I understand --

MULLIN: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is your view on Greenland?

MULLIN: That wasn't discussed. Greenland, as I already discussed, already made -- I think you made the answer. That wasn't discussed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think should happen to --

MULLIN: That's not what this -- that was not what this briefing is about. That's not what I'm going to be talking about. Yes. Go ahead.

BLITZER: All right. We're going to listen to the House Speaker Mike Johnson right now. He and others have just been briefed by top national security officials as well. It's talking about Greenland.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), HOUSE SPEAKER: And in my view, the most highly qualified person, he is a gift to America right now with his insights, particularly on these issues, Western Hemisphere and Venezuela and all the rest. And so, he is his one that's highly respected in that room. And even when you disagree with some of the play calls, they can't dispute anything he said.

And look, everybody understood the context of that conversation. It was obviously supposed to be off the record because we're in the skiff and it was highly classified.

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