Atlantic – United States special forces have seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker, the Marinera, in the North Atlantic following a protracted maritime pursuit. The vessel, formerly known as the Bella-1, was intercepted by American personnel who reportedly boarded the ship via helicopter. The US European Command confirmed the seizure, citing persistent violations of unilateral sanctions concerning the transport of Venezuelan oil. This operation coincides with a broader American crackdown on a so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers allegedly used by Caracas and Moscow to circumvent international trade restrictions.
The Russian government has formally condemned the action, with the Ministry of Transport characterising the seizure as a flagrant breach of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Moscow asserts that the vessel was operating in international waters and that the use of force against a duly registered sovereign ship constitutes a violation of maritime law. Whilst Russian military assets, including a submarine, were identified in the vicinity during the operation, no direct military confrontation was reported. The seizure marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Moscow regarding global energy exports and maritime sovereignty.
