MICHAEL WALSH INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT

The US and NATO are paying increased attention to the vessel MV Marinera tanker. Their focus is clearly disproportionate, the Russian Foreign Ministry says.

The agency noted that a US Coast Guard ship has been following the MV Marinera for several days. However, the Russian vessel is approximately 4,000 km from the American coast.

NOTE: Venezuela’s head of state, Nicolas Maduro, has been kidnapped and held hostage by the United States.

However, Venezuela remains an independent nation and continues to function as a sovereign entity. This includes trading with the nations of the world regardless of an American blockade.

‘We expect that Western countries declare their commitment to freedom of navigation on the high seas.

They should start with themselves when implementing this principle,’ the RT Telegram channel quotes the diplomatic agency as saying.

America Attacks International Shipping

The ministry also emphasised that the vessel is sailing in international waters of the North Atlantic. It is under the Russian flag. This occurs in full compliance with international maritime law.

Earlier, a source told RT that there was an attempted hijacking of the Russian-flagged tanker Mariner. This occurred during a storm in the North Atlantic.

International Piracy by America

There seems to be an interesting strategic game of oil tankers’ protection from U.S. piracy being played by the masters of strategic actions, Russia.

The New York Times reports, citing its sources, that the tanker Bella 1 is now known as Marinera. The U.S. Coast Guard had previously targeted it for detention off the coast of Venezuela.

It has been officially registered in Russia’s national vessel database for nearly two weeks. It is under the new name Marinera.

Tanker Transfers to Russian Allegiance

The tanker Bella 1, pursued by the U.S. Coast Guard, changed its status mid-voyage, became Russian, was renamed Marinera, and received Sochi as its port of registry. Russia has now officially demanded that the United States cease its pursuit.

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Under international law, vessels sailing under a national flag are afforded the protection of that state.

In this context, the Russian government has sent a formal diplomatic note. They are demanding that the United States stop pursuing the oil tanker.

At present, Marinera is located in the North Atlantic and continues to move north at full speed.

A former U.S. Treasury official responsible for sanctions enforcement suggested this situation might be part of a broader Russian strategy. The aim might be to provide shelter for the shadow fleet. These are vessels transporting sanctioned oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela!

If that is true, considering it was reported by NYT, the game is getting interesting to say the least.

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