Russia Dispatches Warships into North Atlantic
Media reported Tuesday that the tanker—now operating under the name Marinera after transferring its registration to Russia—was believed to be sailing between Scotland and Iceland. The report noted that maritime tracking data can be inconsistent and subject to error.
The confrontation follows an order issued last month by President Donald Trump, who said he had authorized a “blockade” of tankers under sanctions connected to Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities denounced the move as “theft,” while Trump escalated accusations that Venezuelan shipping networks have been used for narcotics trafficking.
Two U.S. officials stated to media that American forces would seek to board the vessel rather than destroy it. In a separate statement, US Southern Command said it “remains ready to support our US government agency partners in standing against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting through this region.”
Moscow responded sharply. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the ship was “sailing in the international waters of the North Atlantic under the state flag of the Russian Federation and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law,” and warned it was receiving “clearly disproportionate attention.”
Maritime analyst Dimitris Ampatzidis of Kpler told BBC Verify that sanctions enforcement is driven by a vessel’s ownership and sanctions history rather than its flag, cautioning that re-registration could provoke "diplomatic friction" without preventing U.S. intervention.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “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 provider above.
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.
