Sending a Russian submarine near Venezuela
Russia has dispatched a submarine to escort an empty tanker that was trying to escape the blockade of US-sanctioned tankers near Venezuela; An issue that has become the latest poi of tension in US-Russian relations.
The tanker, formerly known as Bella 1, was unable to dock in Venezuela and load its oil cargo, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The newspaper also reported that despite the tanker being empty, the U.S. Coast Guard pursued the vessel io the Atlaic Ocean as part of its efforts to stop a fleet of tankers.
The crew of this oil tanker thwarted the American attempt to eer the ship in December last year and headed towards the Atlaic Ocean. However, as the US Coast Guard coinued to pursue the tanker, the crew paied a Russian flag on the side of the ship, changed its name and registration to “Marinera” to pretend that the ship belonged to Russia.
Russia has asked the United States to stop chasing the oil tanker near Venezuela, three US officials said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia announced that it is monitoring the situation around this oil tanker with concern.
In the meaime, the US Army’s Southern Command also wrote on social media that it is ready to deal with the embargoed ships and ages who transport oil in this area.
Rasha Today News agency also announced that the US was trying to seize the oil tanker, which was on its way to Murmansk, Russia, despite its “clear civilian status”.
Tensions over this tanker have iensified and the diplomatic situation between the United States and Russia over Ukraine coinues, and the curre situation makes the negotiations even more complicated.
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