MICHAEL WALSH REPORT

A Spark to Ignite World War III? The US European Command says the vessel and its crew have been captured over alleged ‘violations of sanctions.’

On Wednesday January 7, the US military seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker MV Marinera. They captured it in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from the Caribbean Sea.

Is the Seizure Legal?

NO! The Russian Ministry of Transport stated that US Navy forces boarded the Mariner in the open sea. It happened outside the territorial waters of any state.

The ministry emphasized that this violated the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In accordance with the Convention, freedom of navigation applies on the high seas. No state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states. The Ministry of Transport emphasized this point.

Publicly available reports indicate that the vessel now is called MV Marinera. The United States seized it under a sanctions‑related legal theory.

Whether that seizure was legally valid is contested. The U.S. claims it acted under a federal seizure warrant tied to sanctions violations, while Russia argues the action was unlawful. No independent court ruling has yet resolved the dispute.

Russia rejects the U.S. legal basis entirely and considers the seizure a violation of international maritime law.

Russia argues the U.S. cannot enforce its domestic sanctions extraterritorially on a Russian‑flagged vessel in international waters. No neutral international court has ruled on the matter.

The vessel, previously was intercepted for alleged ‘violation of US sanctions’ in the international waters to the northwest of Scotland.

The US Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security took action. This was in coordination with the military. The US European Command has announced it.

‘The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro,’ it said.

The action against the tanker supports US President Donald Trump’s ’proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels.’ He alleges these vessels threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere, the command noted.

The tanker first came into the US crosshairs after reportedly trying to approach Venezuela late last year.

The US Coast Guard attempted to detain the vessel. However, the crew resisted and disallowed the American boarding party. They then headed for the Atlantic. During the pursuit, the vessel changed its name and switched to the Russian flag.

Shortly after the capture of the Marinera, the US Southern Command made another announcement. It stated that it had seized another vessel in the Caribbean Sea. The vessel was described as a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker.

‘The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition,’ the command stated.

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