The United States has seized a tanker suspected of transporting Venezuelan and Iranian oil, which was re-registered under the Russian flag after its arrest. The seizure took place in line with US policy on sanctioned vessels in the Western Hemisphere.
The Department of Homeland Security and US military forces have, for the first time in years, detained a tanker under the Russian flag. The tanker was empty at the time of detention, but its links to sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan entities attracted US attention.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed confusion over the increased focus on the tanker, but Washington insists the action was in accordance with previous administration policy against sanctioned vessels in the region. The case demonstrates increased US pressure on countries seeking to circumvent sanctions.
The incident creates a dilemma for the Kremlin: whether to respond firmly or avoid escalation to not further damage relations and risk new harsh US sanctions. Experts suggest Moscow may take a restrained approach, showing the limits of its options compared to US strategies.
The tanker’s seizure and the steps that follow may change the atmosphere of bilateral relations, illustrating Russia’s vulnerability to US sanctions pressure and issues in energy cooperation with other sanctioned states.
