Russia deploys submarine to protect oil tanker arriving from Venezuela

Russia has dispatched a submarine to protect a Russian-flagged oil tanker arriving from Venezuela.

According to foreign news agencies, the US Navy and Coast Guard have been tracking the vessel for an extended period and have previously attempted to seize it.

The tanker breached a partial US naval blockade around Venezuela last month, after which it came under close pursuit by the US Navy.

US officials say the vessel is part of a so-called “shadow fleet” transporting crude oil from countries under US sanctions, including Venezuela, Russia and Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia has deployed “a submarine and other naval vessels” to safeguard the tanker.

CBS News also quoted two US officials as confirming that Russia had sent a submarine along with additional Russian warships as an escort.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that it was viewing the US pursuit of the tanker “with concern”.

The ministry told state media that the ship was sailing under the Russian flag and was operating far from US shores.

The statement added that, for reasons that remain unclear, the Russian vessel was receiving unusually close attention from US and NATO forces.

It is worth noting that following pursuit by the US Coast Guard, the tanker transferred its registration to Russia, changed its name from Bella 1 to Marinera, and last month the crew painted a Russian flag onto the vessel.

This development marks the latest incident in US President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown on sanctioned oil tankers travelling to and from Venezuela.

The tanker, now under Russian protection, was heading towards Venezuela; however, it was not carrying any cargo at the time it evaded the blockade.