English
US vs Venezuela: In a significant global development, the United States, under the leadership of Donald Trump has dramatically seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday. According to military officials and news agencies, the US seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker with Venezuela links after tracking it for more than two weeks. The development is significant as it comes amid US’s attack on South American country Venezuela. As per an AP report, the US has seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to North American country Venezuela in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean.
According to a report carried by Reuters news agency, the ship, originally known as the Bella-1, had slipped past a US maritime blockade aimed at stopping sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and rebuffed earlier attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it.
As per what is currently being reported, the US forces, including the Coast Guard and military, carried out the operation far from Venezuelan waters, near Iceland, after a prolonged pursuit. Two US officials told Reuters the tanker had changed its name and been reflagged under Russia, a move that added a sensitive diplomatic dimension to the mission.
Also, Russian naval vessels, including a submarine, were reportedly in the general area at the time, though it was unclear how close they were to the operation.
“Considering the incoming information regarding the presence of Russian citizens among the crew, we demand that the American side ensure humane and dignified treatment of them and strictly respect their rights and interests,” Russian Foreign Ministry has said on the seize, as quoted by Russian news agency TASS.
The move could increase tensions between Washington and Moscow, especially as it follows an unprecedented US operation in Caracas last weekend that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
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