Following the US forces’ capture of the Marinera oil tanker, Russia has issued a concerning threat related to a potential World War Three scenario.
On Wednesday, RAF surveillance aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce participated in the operation to intercept the Marinera in the Atlantic Ocean, as requested by the US.
The vessel, previously known as the Bella 1 and linked to Venezuela, was seized while traveling northeast between Iceland and Scotland, despite being monitored by Russian forces.
Russian legislator Alexei Zhuravlev urged President Vladimir Putin to take aggressive action in response to the joint US-British operation, suggesting attacks with torpedoes and the sinking of American Coast Guard boats. He condemned the seizure as a clear act of piracy conducted by the US Navy.
Zhuravlev emphasized that since the tanker sailed under the Russian flag, the seizure amounted to a violation of Russian territory, warranting a swift and resolute response, even potentially involving nuclear weapons according to Russian military doctrine.
Additionally, another Russian lawmaker, Lt-Gen Andrey Gurulev, proposed imposing sanctions on ships heading to Black Sea ports and potentially targeting missile production facilities in Western countries with nuclear-capable systems.
Expressing disappointment in Putin’s lack of action following a disregarded plea to the US not to intercept the Marinera, Gurulev stressed the need for a strong political stance to address the situation.
Former Kremlin president Dmitry Medvedev cautioned the Trump administration against engaging in provocations with Russia.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey defended the legality of the seizure, citing the vessel’s stateless status and false flagging as reasons for the interception. He disclosed the Marinera’s involvement in breaching sanctions on Iran by transporting significant amounts of Iranian crude oil over several years to fund illicit activities.
Healey highlighted the ship’s attempt to evade capture by changing its name and adopting the Russian flag, indicating deceptive practices.
Despite the UK’s justification, the Russian foreign ministry contended that the seizure violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, citing a temporary permit granted to the ship to sail under the Russian flag on Christmas Eve.
Prior to the tanker’s seizure, Kremlin adviser Andrei Fedorov warned that any hostile actions against Russia could escalate into a critical or even crisis-inducing situation in US-Russia relations.
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