Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing a series of setbacks described as a ‘double humiliation’ by experts, as the United States demonstrates its military strength in various global actions. Since the beginning of the year, the Kremlin has witnessed the capture of their close ally, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, by US forces, along with the seizure of several oil tankers linked to Russia.
On Thursday, Russia strongly criticized the US for seizing an oil tanker and attempting to impose a ceasefire in Ukraine, where prolonged conflict has persisted. Tatiana Kastouéva-Jean, director of the Russia-Eurasia Center at IFRI, mentioned that Putin is undergoing intense contemplation following recent events, losing the element of strategic surprise.
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the capture of a Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic could escalate military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region. Despite the incidents, Putin has refrained from directly addressing the tanker seizure and remains silent on the detention of Maduro, viewed as an aggressive move by the US.
With Moscow receiving criticism for its delayed response, experts believe Russia may have limited options in responding to the vessel seizures. The US’s actions have put pressure on Putin, who aims to maintain good relations with the White House during Ukraine peace negotiations. While protests are expected from Russia, avoiding further tensions with the US appears to be a priority.
The US government’s seizure of the commercial vessel Bella 1, now known as Marinera under the Russian flag, is part of its oil embargo on Venezuela to enforce sanctions. This move follows Russia’s use of shadow fleet tankers to transport oil, prompting concerns that similar actions could be taken against Russia in the future.