Russia has deployed navy resources to escort an oil tanker being pursued by U.S. forces across the Atlantic, as reported by CBS News, a BBC media partner in the U.S. The vessel, not currently carrying any cargo, has previously transported Venezuelan crude oil and was believed to be positioned between Scotland and Iceland as of Tuesday.
President Donald Trump announced last month his intention to 'blockade' sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, calling such operations 'theft,' according to Venezuela's government. Ahead of the U.S. seizure of Venezuela's former leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump accused the Venezuelan government of using ships to smuggle drugs into the U.S.
The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the Bella 1 in the Caribbean last month, as it was believed to be en route to Venezuela. The ship faced allegations of violating U.S. sanctions by shipping Iranian oil. It then sharply altered its course, changing its name to Marinera and reportedly switching its registration from Guyana to Russia. The ship's approach to Europe has been marked by the arrival of approximately 10 U.S. military transport aircraft and helicopters.
Russia has expressed it is 'monitoring with concern' the situation involving the ship. Two U.S. officials informed CBS News on Tuesday that U.S. forces planned to board the ship, with Washington preferring a seizure rather than sinking it. On Tuesday, the U.S. military's Southern Command posted on social media affirming its readiness to work alongside U.S. government agencies to oppose sanctioned vessels navigating this region, emphasizing that its sea services are committed and ready to act.
The Marinera was believed to be positioned between Scotland and Iceland as of late Tuesday, with adverse weather and distance complicating any potential boarding. If a U.S. military operation were to occur from the UK, it is expected that Washington would inform its ally. At present, the UK Ministry of Defence has refrained from commenting on the military activities of other nations. U.S. officials, as cited by CBS, indicated that a maneuver akin to a previous operation involving U.S. Marines, special operations forces, and the Coast Guard seizing a large crude oil tanker, The Skipper, from Guyana, could be undertaken again.