Russia has issued a forceful condemnation of the United States military's seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker on the high seas, accusing Washington of a blatant violation of international maritime law. The incident, which occurred in the North Atlantic Ocean, has escalated diplomatic tensions between the two powers.
Moscow's Strong Protest and Legal Argument
In an official statement released on Telegram, Russia's Ministry of Transport detailed the events. The vessel in question, the oil tanker Marinera (formerly named Bella 1), was granted a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, 2025. The ministry asserted this was done in full compliance with both Russian and international regulations.
The statement revealed that on Wednesday, at approximately 3:00 PM Moscow time, US Navy forces boarded the Marinera. Crucially, this action took place outside the territorial waters of any nation, in international waters. Following the boarding, contact with the ship was lost.
Quoting the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Russian ministry stressed the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas. "No state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states," the statement emphasized, framing the US action as an illegal use of force.
The US Justification: Sanctions Enforcement
The Russian protest came shortly after US European Command (EUCOM) publicly announced the seizure. In a post on the social media platform X, EUCOM stated the Russian-flagged tanker M/V Bella 1 was seized in the North Atlantic under a warrant issued by a US federal court.
The warrant was for violations of US sanctions. US authorities stated the tanker had been tracked for weeks by the US Coast Guard cutter Munro. They alleged the vessel had been evading a US blockade targeting sanctioned oil vessels near Venezuela for over a fortnight.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the ship was originally sanctioned by the US in 2024. It was later renamed Marinera and reflagged to Russia. The operation was described as a "whole-of-government approach" involving the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, highlighting its significance to US national security policy.
Escalating Tensions and Broader Implications
This high-seas confrontation has significantly added to the existing tensions between Washington and Moscow. Reports indicate that Russia had deployed naval assets to escort the tanker during the standoff, suggesting the situation was highly charged prior to the seizure.
The incident sets a concerning precedent for maritime law and interstate relations. It pits the US interpretation of its right to enforce unilateral sanctions on the global stage against Russia's (and potentially other nations') interpretation of sovereign immunity and freedom of navigation under UNCLOS. The aftermath of the seizure and the fate of the vessel and its crew remain key points of contention with no immediate resolution in sight.
