Russia has deployed a submarine and other naval vessels to escort an oil tanker that United States forces have been pursuing across the North Atlantic, escalating maritime tensions between the two powers.
The tanker, formerly known as Bella 1 and now renamed Marinera, has been tracked by the US Coast Guard and military aircraft after evading a US blockade aimed at enforcing sanctions on Venezuelan‑linked oil shipments.
US authorities previously attempted to board and seize the vessel in Caribbean waters in December 2025, but the crew resisted and changed course into the open Atlantic.
During the pursuit, the crew painted a Russian flag on the hull and re‑registered the ship in Russia, complicating enforcement efforts.
The United States has maintained surveillance of Marinera using Coast Guard cutters, reconnaissance aircraft, and other military assets as it approached waters between Iceland and the British Isles. Washington has signalled readiness to seize the tanker rather than destroy it, according to US officials.
Moscow has lodged formal diplomatic protests and says it is “monitoring with concern” US and NATO activity near the vessel. Russian officials assert the tanker is sailing legally under the Russian flag and has condemned what they describe as disproportionate military attention.
Analysts say Russia’s decision to commit naval assets to protect the Marinera reflects broader geopolitical friction over sanctions enforcement and control of oil exports tied to countries like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.
The situation remains highly fluid, with potential implications for international maritime law and US‑Russia relations.
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