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Russian navy shadows tanker amid US pursuit
Russia has dispatched naval vessels, including a submarine, to escort an oil tanker currently navigating the North Atlantic, as US forces prepare to intercept the ship over alleged sanctions violations, CBS News reported on Tuesday.
Tanker's location and recent movements
The vessel, now named Marinera, was last tracked approximately 300 kilometers south of Iceland on Tuesday morning, according to AIS data from Marine Traffic. Over the past two days, it had sailed northward along the western coast of the UK.
The ship, previously known as Bella 1, has a history of transporting Venezuelan crude oil but is currently not carrying any cargo, according to its latest reports. It has faced accusations of breaching US sanctions by shipping Iranian oil and recently reflagged from Guyana to Russia.
US plans and diplomatic tensions
Two US officials confirmed to CBS News that American forces are planning to board the tanker, with Washington preferring to seize rather than sink the vessel. The US Coast Guard attempted to board the ship last month in the Caribbean under a warrant for alleged sanctions violations but failed to do so.
The US Southern Command stated on social media that it remains prepared to support government agencies in countering sanctioned vessels. "Our sea services are vigilant, agile, and postured to track vessels of interest. When the call comes, we will be there," the command said.
Russia's foreign ministry responded by stating that the tanker is sailing in international waters under the Russian flag and in compliance with maritime law. It criticized the "disproportionate attention" given to the vessel by US and NATO forces, urging Western nations to uphold freedom of navigation principles.
Legal and diplomatic implications
Dimitris Ampatzidis, a senior analyst at maritime intelligence firm Kpler, told BBC Verify that changing a ship's name or flag does not alter its legal status under US enforcement. "US action is driven by the vessel's underlying identity, ownership networks, and sanctions history, not by its painted markings or flag claim," he said.
Ampatzidis added that while reflagging to Russia might create diplomatic friction, it would not prevent US enforcement actions.
Broader context and recent US operations
The potential confrontation follows a high-profile US operation last month, where Marines and special forces seized The Skipper, a Guyanese-flagged oil tanker, after it departed Venezuela. The operation mirrored the current scenario, with US officials suggesting a similar approach could be taken against Marinera.
The standoff also comes days after a dramatic US raid in Caracas to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on allegations of weapon and drug offenses, further escalating tensions in the region.
The UK Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on the situation, stating it does not discuss other nations' military activities.
