Russia has reportedly deployed a submarine and navy assets to escort an oil tanker being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic.
The American Coast Guard attempted to seize the Bella 1, an aging oil tanker believed to be part of the so-called “shadow fleet,” last month.
But the ship managed to thwart these efforts by dramatically changing course, changing its name to the Marinera and reportedly reflagging from a Guyanese to a Russian vessel.
Several American outlets have reported that Russia has since deployed some of its navy assets to escort the oil tanker, which was thought to be between Scotland and Iceland on Tuesday.
US officials told CBS News on Tuesday that US forces were still planning to seize the ship, believed to be one of many used to transport oil from countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela to evade Western sanctions.
The maritime stand-off between the US and Russia follows the American attack on Venezuela, Moscow’s most significant partner in South America, and seizure of its former leader, Nicolás Maduro.
Ahead of the large-scale military intervention, US President Donald Trump had repeatedly accused the Venezuelan government of using ships to bring drugs to the US and ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers, a move which Caracas described as “theft”.
Rising tensions between Washington and Moscow also follow a meeting of European and US leaders in Paris which saw a more resolute US stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Growing signs of US-Russia friction
After reflagging as a Russian vessel, US authorities temporarily halted their pursuit of Bella 1 to avoid a potential diplomatic confrontation with Moscow, but the maritime stand-off has continued.
On Tuesday, the U.S military’s Southern Command posted on social media that it “remains ready to support our US government agency partners in standing against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting through this region.
“Our sea services are vigilant, agile, and postured to track vessels of interest. When the call comes, we will be there.”
Meanwhile, Russia has said that it is “monitoring with concern” the situation around the Bella 1.
“At present, our vessel is sailing in the international waters of the North Atlantic under the state flag of the Russian Federation and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law,” Russia’s foreign ministry said.
“For reasons unclear to us, the Russian ship is being given increased and clearly disproportionate attention by the US and NATO military, despite its peaceful status.
“We expect that Western countries, which declare their commitment to freedom of navigation on the high seas, will begin adhering to this principle themselves.”
Can the US seize the Bella 1?
The US officials quoted by CBS said that America could mount an operation like one it conducted last month, when US forces seized The Skipper, a large, Guyana-flagged oil tanker, after it left Venezuela.
Under international law, vessels flying a country’s flag are under the protection of that nation, but they are generally prohibited from changing flags while on a voyage.
Dimitris Ampatzidis, senior risk and compliance analyst at maritime intelligence firm Kpler, also told the BBC that changing the ship’s name and flag might not have much of an effect on American plans, even if it causes “diplomatic friction.”
“US action is driven by the vessel’s underlying identity [IMO number], ownership/control networks, and sanctions history, not by its painted markings or flag claim,” he said.