Russia sends navy ships to guard oil tanker being pursued by US forces

Russia has deployed naval forces to escort an oil tanker that is also being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic, CBS News, the BBC's media partner in the US, reported.

The ship, which is not currently carrying anything, has historically carried Venezuelan crude oil and was believed to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said last month that he ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers. entering and leaving Venezuela is a move the government there has called “theft.”

Ahead of the USA arrest of the country's former leader Nicolas Maduro On Saturday, Trump repeatedly accused the Venezuelan government of using ships to bring drugs into the United States.

The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board Bella 1 last month in the Caribbean when it was believed to be heading to Venezuela. He had a warrant to arrest the ship, which was accused of violating US sanctions and transporting Iranian oil.

It then abruptly changed course, as well as its name, to Mariner, reportedly changing its flag from a Guyanese to a Russian vessel.

Its approach to Europe coincided with the arrival of about 10 American military transport planes, as well as helicopters.

Russia says it is “monitoring with concern” the situation around the ship.

Earlier Tuesday, two U.S. officials told CBS News that U.S. troops planned to board the ship and that Washington preferred to seize it rather than sink it.

On Tuesday, U.S. Southern Command posted on social media that it “remains committed to supporting our U.S. government agency partners in countering vessels and sanctioned entities transiting the region.”

“Our maritime services are alert, agile and ready to track vessels of interest. When the call comes, we will be there.”

The Marinera was believed to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday night as distance and weather made landing difficult.

Before any US military operation is launched from Britain, Washington will have to inform its ally.

For now, the UK Ministry of Defense says it will not comment on the military activities of other countries.

US officials quoted by CBS suggested that America could carry out an operation similar to the one carried out last month. when U.S. Marines and special operations forces working with the Coast Guard seized the Skipper, a large oil tanker out of Guyana, after the vessel left port in Venezuela.

The tanker's AIS (automatic identification system) tracking data, which could be tampered with or tampered with, suggests it was in the North Atlantic about 2,000 km (1,200 miles) west of mainland Europe on Tuesday.

Under international law, ships flying a country's flag are protected by that country, but Dimitris Ampacidis, senior risk and compliance analyst at maritime intelligence firm Kpler, told BBC Verify that changing a ship's name and flag would make little difference.

“The US actions are driven by the core identity of the vessel. [IMO number]networks of ownership/control and history of sanctions, not painted markings or claims to the flag,” he said.

Ampacidis added that switching to a Russian registry could cause “diplomatic friction” but would not stop any US enforcement action.

“Currently, our ship is 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,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“For reasons unknown to us, the Russian ship is receiving increased and clearly disproportionate attention from the US and NATO military, despite its peaceful status,” the report says.

“We expect that Western countries that claim to be committed to freedom of navigation on the high seas will themselves begin to adhere to this principle.”

The potential standoff over the oil tanker comes days after the US shocked the world with Maduro's takeover of the capital Caracas. During the operation to free him and his wife on suspicion of weapons and drug crimes, they fired at targets in the city.