The escort of a sanctioned oil tanker by Russian warships and a submarine, which the US is trying to seize, has caused military tension in the North Atlantic, reminiscent of the Cold War years.
Elchi.az reports that the tanker “Marinera” (formerly Bella 1), allegedly part of a clandestine oil trade network linked to Venezuela and Iran by the United States, has ignited a global power struggle. The weeks-long pursuit escalated into an international crisis as Russia deployed military assets to the region.
According to a report in the “Daily Mail” newspaper, the events began in late December when the US Coast Guard attempted to control the tanker off the coast of the Caribbean. The crew reportedly resisted and fled to the open seas, during which time a temporary Russian flag was raised on the hull. The ship was soon registered in the Russian port of Sochi under the name “Marinera” and came under Moscow’s official patronage.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) newspaper, highlighting the military dimension of the crisis, reported that Russia sent a submarine and at least one warship to the region to protect the tanker. The convoy, sailing in strategic waters between Iceland and Scotland, is said to be aimed at militarily preventing possible US intervention.
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