US seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in Atlantic after two-week pursuit

US coastguard reportedly boards the Marinera, facing no resistance but risking confrontation with Moscow

The US European Command has now confirmed the seizure of the tanker. Picture: US European Command

The US has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean in a high-stakes operation that could risk confrontation with the Kremlin after Moscow reportedly dispatched a submarine to safeguard the vessel.

The Marinera, formerly known as the Bella 1, “was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro”, US European Command said in a post on X.