Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the U.S. seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic and said the move could further escalate military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region.
In its statement, the ministry said the seizure could mean a “visible lowering of the ‘threshold for the use of force’ against peaceful shipping,” warning that the consequences could spread beyond the maritime case and affect President Donald Trump’s efforts to persuade Russia to end its nearly four-year war in Ukraine.
The Foreign Ministry also said the U.S. attempt to frame the seizure as part of a broader effort to gain control over Venezuela’s oil riches was “utterly cynical,” adding that it reflected “neo-colonial ambitions.” It called the seizure a “gross violation” of international maritime law and said the ship had a permit to sail under the Russian flag issued in December.
The ministry said U.S. threats to prosecute the crew were based on “absurd pretexts” and were “categorically unacceptable.” It also rejected the use of unilateral sanctions, saying they were “illegitimate” and could not serve as justification to seize vessels on the high seas.
The White House declined to comment Thursday when asked about the Foreign Ministry’s statement. The Associated Press reported that President Vladimir Putin had not yet commented on the tanker seizure, and had remained silent about the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which his diplomats have denounced as a blatant act of aggression.
The U.S. European Command said Wednesday that the merchant vessel Bella 1 was seized for “violations of U.S. sanctions.” The Associated Press reported that U.S. forces began pursuing the tanker last month after it tried to evade a blockade on sanctioned oil vessels around Venezuela, renaming it Marinera and flagging it to Russia.
Trump’s administration has enforced an oil embargo on Venezuela, and the U.S. Energy Department said the only oil transported in and out of Venezuela would be through approved channels consistent with U.S. law and national security interests, according to the Associated Press report.
As the standoff drew attention, the Associated Press said hawkish commentators in Moscow criticized the government for failing to mount a quick response and argued that Russia should deploy naval assets to protect ships linked to a “shadow fleet” used to move oil to global customers. It also reported that Western allies have pledged to tighten sanctions on such tankers, and that some observers in Moscow warned the U.S. action could set a precedent for other nations.
Daniel Fried, a former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, said Russia’s response options were limited. “The Russians tend to scream and yell when they’ve been embarrassed, and they’ve been embarrassed in this case because Russian power is not what Vladimir Putin makes it out to be,” Fried said, adding, “They couldn’t do anything about this ship.”
Fried said Russia has little credibility when it comes to complaints about international law due to its invasion of Ukraine, and he described Russia’s claim to the ship as “tenuous” because it was only given a temporary permit to fly the Russian flag late last month. He also said it was possible Moscow might react by plotting an attack on U.S. interests, but that Putin may not want to risk antagonizing Trump. “Putin has gotten further with Trump when he flatters him,” Fried said.
Russian military bloggers reacted angrily as well, according to the Associated Press, with some accusing the Kremlin of failing to mount a stronger response to the U.S. action. The report said some discussed deploying teams of military contractors on shadow-fleet ships to prevent future seizures, while Alexander Kots, a military correspondent for the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid, argued that Russia’s failure could embolden the U.S. and other Western nations to impound more ships.
Kots wrote, “Facing a bully who feels all-powerful, we must slap him across the face.” Separately, the Associated Press reported that Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Wednesday that Trump has “greenlit” a Russia sanctions bill intended to economically cripple Moscow that has been in the works for months.