Russia sends navy ships to guard tanker pursued by US forces

Russia deployed naval assets to escort an oil tanker also being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic, reported CBS News, the BBC’s media partner in the United States.

The ship, which is currently carrying nothing, has always carried Venezuelan crude oil and was believed to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said last month that he ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers enter and exit Venezuela, a move the government described as “theft.”

Before the United States seizure of the country’s former leader Nicolas Maduro On Saturday, Trump repeatedly accused the Venezuelan government of using ships to transport drugs to the United States.

The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the Bella 1 last month in the Caribbean as it appeared to be heading toward Venezuela. He had a warrant to seize the ship, accused of violating U.S. sanctions and shipping Iranian oil.

It then dramatically changed course – as well as its name to Marinera – apparently going from a Guyanese vessel to a Russian vessel.

Its approach to Europe coincided with the arrival of around ten American military transport planes as well as helicopters.

Russia says it is “monitoring with concern” the situation around the ship.

Two U.S. officials told CBS News on Tuesday that U.S. forces planned to board the ship and that Washington preferred to seize it rather than sink it.

On Tuesday, the US military’s Southern Command said on social media that it “remains ready to support our partner US government agencies in their fight against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting through this region.”

“Our maritime services are vigilant, agile and ready to track the vessels of interest. When the call comes, we will be there.”

The Marinera was thought to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday night, with the distance and weather conditions making boarding difficult.

Before a US military operation is launched from the UK, Washington should inform its ally.

For now, the British Ministry of Defense has said it will not comment on other countries’ military activities.

US officials cited by CBS suggested that America could mount an operation like the one carried out last month. when U.S. Marines and special operations forces working with the Coast Guard seized the Skipper, a large Guyana-flagged oil tanker, after the vessel left port in Venezuela.

The tanker’s AIS (automatic identification system) tracking data, which may be falsified or faked, suggests it was in the North Atlantic on Tuesday, about 2,000 km (1,200 miles) west of continental Europe.

Under international law, ships flying a country’s flag are under that country’s protection, but Dimitris Ampatzidis, senior risk and compliance analyst at maritime intelligence firm Kpler, told BBC Verify that changing the ship’s name and flag might not change much.

“The US action is motivated by the underlying identity of the ship [IMO number]ownership/control networks and sanctions history, not by its painted markings or flag,” he said.

Ampatzidis added that switching to the Russian registry could cause “diplomatic friction” but would not stop any U.S. coercive action.

“At present, our ship is sailing in the international waters of the North Atlantic under the flag of the Russian Federation and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“For reasons we do not clearly understand, the Russian ship is the subject of increased and clearly disproportionate attention from the US and NATO military, despite its peaceful status,” he added.

“We hope that Western countries that declare their commitment to freedom of navigation on the high seas will themselves begin to adhere to this principle.”

The potential standoff over the tanker comes days after the United States shocked the world with the seizure of Maduro in the capital Caracas. He bombed targets in the city during the operation to clear him and his wife on suspicion of weapons and drugs offences.