The Russian-flagged vessel has been tracked for several days by a U.S. Coast Guard ship.

On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it is closely following the developments regarding the oil tanker “Marinera” tracked by the U.S. military in international waters.

RELATED:

Europe Caught in Dilemma After U.S. Raid in Venezuela

The Russian-flagged vessel has been tracked for several days by a U.S. Coast Guard ship, despite being approximately 4,000 km away from the American coast.

The Russian government is closely following the developments with concern due to the abnormal attention being paid to the vessel by the United States, calling on Western countries that declare a commitment to freedom of navigation to “start implementing this principle with themselves.”

Marinera, formerly known as “Bella I,” is subject to U.S. sanctions. The tanker, scheduled to load oil in Venezuela, was unable to dock due to the U.S. blockade.

After being tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard in December, the empty tanker painted the Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and changed its country of registration to Russia. At the end of December, Moscow sent a diplomatic note to Washington, demanding that it cease tracking the tanker. 

At this moment, a Russian submarine and other naval units are escorting the oil tanker, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing a U.S. official as a source.

Although the ship is empty, the U.S. Coast Guard has pursued it into the Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to take action against the fleet of US-sanctioned oil tankers.

The tanker incident comes as Washington and Moscow are engaged in diplomatic disputes over Ukraine, threatening to complicate peace talks.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Xinhua – EFE

IN THIS ARTICLE