Russia’s Foreign Ministry has officially responded with what they called “grave concern” after the Jan. 7 seizure of the Russian-flagged ship, Marinera, in waters north of the U.K. The statement takes a significantly harsher tone toward the U.S. than Russian officials have taken over the course of the past year, which, together with the worsening situation around Venezuela, suggests how the fragile diplomacy between the two countries could quickly dissolve.
The statement confirmed that the Marinera had been authorized to fly the Russian flag and added that Russia had communicated its civilian, non-military status to the United States. “There could have been no doubt regarding this fact, nor any basis for alleging that the tanker was sailing ‘without a flag’ or ‘under a false flag.’” These latter statements have been repeated by American officials with regard to the incident, such as JD Vance, who told Fox News yesterday that it was a “fake Russian tanker.”
The statement goes on to say, “International maritime law explicitly grants the flag state exclusive jurisdiction over its vessels.” Not only did Russia, as the sole holder of the ship’s jurisdiction, not authorize this action, but it “formally protested to U.S. authorities … demanding an immediate end to the pursuit” of the Marinera. The seizing of the ship, therefore, “can only be viewed as a gross violation of fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law and the freedom of navigation.” It also decries the U.S. putting at risk the lives and health of the crew, two of whom have been confirmed to be Russian, and the infringement on the rights of the shipowner. The U.S.’s reference to its sanctions against Venezuelan oil as justification are “without legal foundation,” it goes on. And states bluntly: “Suggestions from certain U.S. officials that the seizure of the Marinera is part of a broader strategy to establish Washington’s unlimited control over Venezuela’s natural resources are profoundly cynical. We categorically reject such neo-colonial ambitions.”
