Trending 
The United States has launched a high-stakes operation in the North Atlantic to intercept the Marinera, a Russian-flagged oil tanker suspected of being part of a “shadow fleet” used to bypass international sanctions.
The vessel, which has alleged ties to Iran and Hezbollah, recently evaded a blockade near Venezuela and was tracked on Wednesday approaching Iceland’s waters.
In a significant escalation, Russia deployed a submarine and naval assets to escort the empty tanker after it thwarted a US Coast Guard boarding attempt last month.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed “concern” over the pursuit, characterising the military attention from the US and NATO as disproportionate for a vessel they claim is on a peaceful mission.
During the weeks-long pursuit, the tanker reportedly rebranded itself, changing its name and registration to Russia while the crew painted the national flag on its hull.
This confrontation coincides with a dramatic political shift in Venezuela.
Following a US raid that resulted in the capture of Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump announced that the US would take control of Venezuela’s oil resources.
While interim leader Delcy Rodriguez is now in power, the logistics and legality of Trump’s claim that Venezuela will hand over tens of millions of barrels of oil to the United States remain unclear.
