Moscow Condemns U.S. Marinera Oil Tanker Capture
US European Command disclosed Wednesday that American naval forces had apprehended the tanker in open waters northwest of Scotland following a pursuit that originated in the Caribbean Sea.
The vessel—formerly operating under the name Bella 1—was detained on allegations of breaching American sanctions related to Venezuelan petroleum exports.
Russia's Transport Ministry confirmed in official documentation: "On December 24, 2025, the Marinera received a temporary permit to fly the Russian flag."
Thursday's formal declaration from Moscow's Foreign Ministry conveyed "serious concern in connection with the unlawful forcible action against the Marinera oil tanker conducted by the US armed forces on January 7."
Russian authorities emphasized the ship obtained flag rights "in accordance with the norms of international and Russian law."
Washington received multiple notifications through diplomatic channels confirming the tanker's Russian registry, leaving no grounds for uncertainty, foreign ministry representatives asserted. They highlighted that maritime conventions explicitly restrict the interception and inspection of vessels in neutral waters to narrowly defined scenarios—such as suspected piracy or human trafficking—neither of which reasonably applies to the Marinera situation, Moscow emphasized.
International protocol requires consultation with flag-state governments before third parties take enforcement measures against their registered ships. Russia lodged repeated formal objections throughout the extended American pursuit of the Marinera, according to the Foreign Ministry.
"In light of this, the boarding of the civilian vessel by US military personnel in international waters and its effective seizure, as well as the capture of the crew, cannot be interpreted as anything but the most blatant violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law," Moscow diplomats emphasized.
Russian officials expressed particular alarm over "Washington's readiness to create acute international crises," including actions that further damage already deteriorated bilateral ties. They cautioned the "incident involving the Marinera can only result in the further escalation of military-political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region," establishing a hazardous precedent while reducing the "threshold for the use of force against civilian vessels."
American attempts to legitimize the Marinera seizure through references to unilateral US sanctions lack legal foundation, the Russian Foreign Ministry contended.
Moscow issued strong protests against American threats to prosecute the tanker's personnel on US territory. Russian diplomats insisted the crew—comprising Russian, Ukrainian, and Indian citizens—receive humane treatment and immediate repatriation.
The targeted tanker initially drew American attention in late 2024 after reportedly attempting to reach Venezuela. The US Coast Guard sought to board the vessel then, but crew members denied access, altered trajectory toward the Atlantic, and subsequently renamed the ship while securing emergency Russian flag certification.
The Marinera operation occurred mere days after US forces executed a military incursion into Venezuela and detained President Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington has formally indicted on narcotics trafficking charges.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
