The US has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean in a high-stakes operation that could risk confrontation with the Kremlin after Moscow reportedly dispatched a submarine to safeguard the vessel.
The Marinera, formerly known as the Bella 1, “was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro”, US European Command said in a post on X. US media reported that the country’s coastguard had successfully boarded the oil tanker, facing no resistance.
The Russian state broadcaster RT earlier published two grainy photographs showing a helicopter approaching the tanker, saying an operation was under way.
