Overview
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. president approved freeing two Russian nationals who served on the Marinera and thanked U.S. authorities for the decision.
- U.S. European Command confirmed the seizure of a tanker in the North Atlantic, and the White House identified it as the Marinera, formerly Bella 1.
- Washington characterizes the vessel as part of a network used to move sanctioned Venezuelan oil, a portrayal Moscow disputes as unlawful.
- Russia lodged a formal protest alleging a breach of international maritime law and noted the ship had temporary authorization to sail under the Russian flag from December 24.
- Press accounts reported the crew changed the ship’s name, registration, and painted a Russian flag during pursuit, did not resist boarding, and that U.S. forces saw no Russian ships nearby.