Following the capture of the Marinera oil tanker by US forces, Russia has issued a grave warning about the potential for World War Three escalation.
The operation to seize the Venezuelan-linked vessel, previously named Bella 1, was supported by RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce in the Atlantic. The tanker was intercepted as it navigated through the waters between Iceland and Scotland, despite being monitored by Russian forces.
In response to the US-British operation, Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev called on President Vladimir Putin to take aggressive action, including attacking with torpedoes and targeting American Coast Guard boats. He denounced the operation as an act of piracy, emphasizing that the tanker was sailing under the Russian national flag.
Zhuravlev stressed the necessity for a swift and resolute response, suggesting that Russia’s military doctrine allows for the use of nuclear weapons in such scenarios. He also criticized the US for its recent actions in Venezuela, warning that a strong response was needed to deter further provocations.
Another Russian MP, Lt-Gen Andrey Gurulev, proposed imposing sanctions on ships heading to Black Sea ports and using nuclear-capable missile systems to target Western missile production facilities. He highlighted the potential for disrupting arms supplies to countries like Ukraine through strategic strikes.
Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, former Kremlin president, cautioned the Trump administration against playing games with Russia, emphasizing the need for respectful and serious diplomatic engagement.
Defence Secretary John Healey defended the legality of the seizure, citing the statelessness of the vessel and its involvement in breaching sanctions on Iran. He underscored that intercepting a stateless vessel is within the rights of the interdicting state.
Healey revealed that the Marinera had transported significant volumes of Iranian crude oil over several years, with the proceeds allegedly supporting terrorism and instability globally. He also pointed out the vessel’s attempt to evade capture by changing its name and flag to Russian.
While the Russian foreign ministry argued that the seizure violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, claiming the ship had been granted permission to sail under the Russian flag temporarily, tensions between Russia and the US heightened following the incident.
Prior to the seizure, Kremlin adviser Andrei Fedorov cautioned that any aggressive moves against Russia could lead to a critical or potentially crisis-inducing situation in bilateral relations.
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