Russia has issued a stark warning of potential conflict after US forces took control of the Marinera oil tanker. The operation to seize the Venezuelan-linked vessel, previously known as the Bella 1, was carried out with the assistance of RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce in the Atlantic.
Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev condemned the US-British operation, calling it an act of piracy by the American navy. He urged a strong response, including the use of torpedoes and the sinking of American Coast Guard boats, emphasizing that the tanker was sailing under the Russian flag. Zhuravlev emphasized that such actions could be considered an encroachment on Russian territory, potentially triggering a military response, including the use of nuclear weapons.
Another Russian MP, Lt-Gen Andrey Gurulev, proposed imposing sanctions on ships heading to Black Sea ports and even suggested the possibility of sinking vessels if deemed necessary. He recommended targeting missile production facilities in the West, citing the potential to disrupt ammunition supplies to Ukraine.
Criticism was also directed at the US administration for disregarding warnings not to intercept the Marinera. Dmitry Medvedev cautioned against provoking Russia, while Defence Secretary John Healey defended the seizure as justified due to the vessel’s stateless status and involvement in breaching sanctions on Iran. He highlighted the vessel’s attempts to evade capture by changing its name and adopting the Russian flag.
The Russian foreign ministry claimed the seizure violated international maritime laws, pointing out that the ship had been granted a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag. Ahead of the incident, Kremlin adviser Andrei Fedorov warned that any aggression towards Russia could lead to a severe crisis in US-Russia relations.
