Khaberni - Russia sent a submarine and other naval units to escort its oil tanker, in a move aimed at protecting it from an American attempt to seize it off the Venezuelan coast, opening a new chapter of tension between Moscow and Washington.
The Wall Street Journal quoted an American official stating that the tanker, formerly known as «Bella 1», has become a new focal point of tension in relations between the two countries, after it tried to evade the American blockade imposed on sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela for more than two weeks.
According to the newspaper, the ship failed to dock at Venezuelan ports to load oil, and although it was empty and old, the American Coast Guard continued its pursuit into the Atlantic Ocean, as part of efforts to curb the activities of a fleet suspected of transporting illicit oil worldwide, including the oil that Russia sells on the black market.
In December, the tanker's crew thwarted an American attempt to board the ship, before sailing it towards the Atlantic Ocean. During the chase, the crew crudely painted a Russian flag on the side of the ship, changed its name to «Marinera», and then officially registered it in Russia. Three American officials mentioned that Moscow has asked Washington to stop pursuing the ship,
Meanwhile, the official Russian agency "Ria Novosti" reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry is following the situation surrounding the tanker with great concern.
In response, the American Coast Guard continued tracking the ship in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, while the Russian channel RT broadcasted a video showing an American boat pursuing the tanker.
The channel also noted in a separate post that the United States is trying to intercept a civilian ship headed to the Russian city of Murmansk, despite its clear legal status.
Retired American Admiral Fred Kenney, former director of legal affairs and external relations at the International Maritime Organization, said that officially registering the ship grants it the protection of its flag according to international law, clarifying that «this procedure does not have retroactive effect, and the ship can't be considered stateless after it has been officially registered».
