- The embattled Russian Tanker
By SCM Staff Writer
MOSCOW – Vladimir Putin’s henchmen have sparked a diplomatic firestorm after accusing NATO of “stalking” a Russian tanker in the middle of the ocean.
The Kremlin is fuming over what they call an “abnormal situation” involving the civilian vessel Marinera, which has been shadowed for days by US and NATO military assets. Despite the ship being more than 4,000 km (2,500 miles) away from American shores, Moscow claims Western warships are hovering like hawks in a tense high-seas standoff.
A spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told state-controlled outlet RT: “We are monitoring the abnormal situation around the Russian tanker Marinera with concern.”
They didn’t stop there, hitting out at the West for allegedly tearing up the rulebook on international waters.
Moscow officials stressed that “freedom of navigation on the high seas” must be respected, suggesting the NATO presence is a provocative “bullying” tactic.
This latest flashpoint comes amid rock-bottom relations between the Kremlin and the West.
Tensions have been at boiling point since the invasion of Ukraine, with NATO members rampaging through Moscow’s economy with heavy sanctions.
The Marinera, a standard civilian tanker, has now become the unlikely front line in this global game of cat and mouse.
While the US and its allies often monitor Russian vessels suspected of bypassing oil price caps or carrying “shadow” cargo, the Kremlin insists this is a simple case of harassment on the open waves.
NATO has yet to comment on the specific “tailing” of the ship, but naval experts say the alliance is keeping a closer eye than ever on Putin’s fleet to ensure no funny business is happening in international shipping lanes.
For now, the Marinera continues its journey with the world’s most powerful navies watching its every move, as the war of words between Moscow and the West reaches a new, salty peak.
