Russia has issued a serious threat of potential conflict following the seizure of the Marinera oil tanker by US forces. The operation, which took place in the Atlantic with assistance from RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce, occurred after a request from the US.
The vessel, previously named Bella 1 and linked to Venezuela, was intercepted as it traveled northeast between Iceland and Scotland, despite being monitored by Russian forces. Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev strongly condemned the US-British operation, calling it an act of piracy and a violation of Russian territory since the tanker sailed under the Russian flag. He suggested retaliatory actions, including using nuclear weapons if necessary.
Another Russian MP, Lt-Gen Andrey Gurulev, proposed imposing sanctions on ships heading to specific Black Sea ports and even using missile systems against Western missile production facilities. Criticism was also directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin for not responding to US calls to refrain from seizing the tanker.
Former Kremlin president Dmitry Medvedev warned the Trump administration against provoking Russia, emphasizing the importance of avoiding conflicts. Defense Secretary John Healey defended the seizure, stating that the tanker was stateless and had been involved in breaching sanctions on Iran by transporting crude oil used to fund terrorism.
Despite justifications provided by the UK, the Russian foreign ministry argued that the seizure violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, citing a temporary permit granted to the ship to sail under the Russian flag. Concerns were raised that such actions could escalate tensions between Russia and the US to a critical level.
In anticipation of the seizure, Kremlin adviser Andrei Fedorov cautioned that any aggressive moves against Russia could lead to a severe crisis in bilateral relations.