The United States has successfully seized a Russian oil tanker after a prolonged pursuit across the Atlantic, a move underscoring the military’s capacity to enforce sanctions. The U.S. military’s European command announced on Wednesday that it boarded the vessel, formerly known as the Bella 1 and now called the Marinera, citing alleged violations of sanctions. This operation was carried out pursuant to a federal court warrant and was facilitated by surveillance from a U.S. Coast Guard ship.
In a separate action, the U.S. also intercepted another vessel, the M Sophia, identified as part of a “dark fleet” allegedly transporting Venezuelan oil. The U.S. administration emphasized the importance of the Venezuelan blockade, although the Marinera was sanctioned for supposed offenses relating to Iran. At the time of its seizure, the Marinera was empty, having previously evaded U.S. forces in December while en route to Venezuela, sailing under a false Guyanese flag before being sold to a Russian company.
This development occurs amid heightened tensions in international relations, particularly concerning ongoing negotiations between Western powers and Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, Russian state media reported attempts by U.S. forces to land on the tanker, complicating the situation further. The seizure of the Marinera is expected to raise questions within the UK, particularly regarding the legality of U.S. operations under international law, as the UK plays a crucial role in defense partnerships with the United States.
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