Russia calls on the US to end „illegal actions“ against the Mariner. Incident in the Atlantic further heightens tensions

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a sharp statement calling on the United States to immediately end its „illegal actions“ against the oil tanker Marinera, who was intercepted by US forces in international waters of the North Atlantic on 7 January. At the same time, Moscow demands that the US side ensure humane and dignified treatment of the Russian citizens who made up the crew of the ship and not prevent their return to their homeland as soon as possible.

According to Russian diplomacy, it was an „illegal act of force“ that constitutes a flagrant violation of the basic principles of international maritime law and freedom of navigation. The ministry stressed that Marinera had a civilian and peaceful status, was flying the Russian flag under a temporary permit issued on 24 December in accordance with international law, and was bound for a Russian port. The US authorities, according to Moscow, were repeatedly aware of the vessel's Russian nationality and could have had no doubt about its status.

The Russian side also rejected Washington's arguments referring to US sanctions legislation. It considers such a justification unacceptable, especially when it concerns interference against a ship of another state in international waters. The ministry also described as categorically unacceptable the threats to prosecute the tanker's crew members, which the US, according to Moscow, formulates under „absurd pretexts“.

At the same time, Russia warned that the incident could lead to a further increase in military-political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic area and to a lowering of the threshold for the use of force against civilian vessels on the high seas.

The United States, on the other hand, justifies its intervention by enforcing its own sanctions measures. According to the US authorities, the tanker was involved in the transport of oil in violation of US sanctions and was supposed to be part of a so-called „shadow fleet“ used to circumvent restrictions imposed on certain states. Washington claims that it acted against the ship on the basis of a court order and that the changes to the name and registration of the vessel did not affect the legitimacy of the intervention.

The available information shows that Marinera had been under surveillance by US forces for a long time and that she had managed to evade an earlier attempt to intervene in the Caribbean before being detained. The final interception did not take place until the North Atlantic with the participation of US naval and air forces.

The case of the tanker Marinera thus raises broader questions about the interpretation of international maritime law, the application of national sanctions outside their own jurisdiction, and the risk of further escalation between major powers. While Washington speaks of law enforcement, Moscow sees the intervention as setting a precedent that could threaten the safety and predictability of international navigation.

gnews.cz - GH