US Prepares for New Operation to Seize Russian Tanker That Previously Escaped Pursuit Off Venezuelan Coast
The US is preparing to storm an oil tanker which, after the start of its pursuit, raised the Russian flag and was officially entered into the Russian register of ships, report CNN and CBS News, citing American officials. Previously, the tanker sailed under other flags, and its data was not included in Russian databases.
Illustrative photo
US military personnel are already preparing an operation to seize the tanker Marinera, which was previously known as Bella 1 and has been under surveillance since mid-December.
The operation could begin as early as this week; however, like any other Pentagon plans, it could be cancelled. Preparation includes a large transfer of military equipment to the United Kingdom: 12 C-17 aircraft, two V-22 Osprey helicopters, and two AC-130 gunships have landed at RAF Fairford and Lakenheath airbases.
The tanker was traveling from Iran to Venezuela but changed course in mid-December to avoid interception by the US Coast Guard.
The US deemed the vessel to have violated the Venezuelan blockade, imposed by Donald Trump on sanctioned tankers. The Americans obtained an arrest warrant for the tanker, but they were unable to board it at that time.
Following this, the crew painted a Russian flag on the tanker's hull and declared that the vessel was under Russia's protection. The tanker was officially registered in the Russian registry, and Moscow sent a diplomatic note to Washington demanding an end to the pursuit.
US officials, however, believe that this does not protect the vessel, because when the Coast Guard first attempted to detain it, it did not have a valid national flag. The tanker Marinera was previously registered in Panama and has been under US sanctions since 2024 for transporting Iranian oil.
The US primarily wants to seize the vessel, not sink it. A similar operation was previously conducted with the tanker The Skipper and other vessels, but now it will be more complex due to bad weather and Russian statements. A potential conflict between Washington and Moscow as a result of this is not ruled out.
According to the latest data, the tanker is moving in the North Atlantic along the coast of Great Britain. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it is monitoring the situation and emphasized that the vessel is allegedly sailing in international waters under the Russian flag and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law.
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