MOSCOW/WASHINGTON/LONDON - The seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker by the United States violates international maritime law and UN conventions, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday.
"The seizure of the Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel sailing in international territorial waters, is undoubtedly a violation of maritime law and UN conventions. This is piracy of the 21st century by the Anglo-Saxons," Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.
Slutsky added that sanctions cannot be used as a justification for seizing a vessel. "The United States is increasingly acting according to the 'law of force,' while ignoring the 'force of law,'" he said.
US European Command said it seized an empty oil tanker linked with Venezuela and registered as a Russian vessel in the North Atlantic in an operation on Wednesday.
Russia has condemned the US action and demanded that the United States not impede the speedy return of Russians on board the vessel to their homeland.
'Shadow fleet' tankers
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the Trump administration will continue to enforce an embargo against all "shadow fleet" vessels alleged by the US to illegally transport oil.
Leavitt made the remarks hours after the US Coast Guard seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic and the Caribbean on Wednesday morning.
US Southern Command on X described the second vessel seized in the Caribbean Sea, the Sophia, as a "stateless, sanctioned dark fleet" ship that was "conducting illicit activities."
It said the US Coast Guard is escorting the vessel to the United States for "final disposition."
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Leavitt also accused the Russia-flagged Marinera vessel, previously known as the Bella 1, of being part of a "Venezuelan shadow fleet" that transported sanctioned oil.
As of Wednesday, US forces have seized four oil tankers linked with Venezuela.
Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Wednesday that British forces assisted a US-led operation against the tanker Marinera, in the North Atlantic at Washington's request, reported local media.
The British Armed Forces provided "pre-planned operational assistance, including basing support, to US military assets operating in the UK-Iceland-Greenland gap," Sky News reported, citing a statement from the ministry.
