By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – According to media reports on Wednesday an empty oil tanker, formerly known as Bella 1, has become the latest point of a face-off between the US and Russia as the latter sent naval assets including a submarine to bring it back
As per the media reports Bella 1 has been trying to evade the US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela for over a fortnight.
The vessel failed to dock in Venezuela and load with oil.
US Coast Guard pursued it into the Atlantic in a bid to crack down on a fleet of tankers that ferry illicit oil around the world.
The vessel’s crew engaged in fisticuffs against the US law agencies who tried to board the vessel in December and steamed into the Atlantic.
Russia has been concerned by U.S. seizures of tankers that ferry its oil around the world.
Russian Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring “with concern” the situation surrounding the tanker, according to state news agency RIA.
US military’s Southern Command said in a post on X that it was ready to “stand against sanctioned vessels in the region.
US Southern Command said “Always ready to serve: SOUTH COM remains ready to support our U.S Government agency partners in standing against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting through this region. Our sea services are vigilant, agile, and postured to track vessels of interest. When the call comes, we will be there.”
US Coast Guard has continued to trail the ship into the Eastern Atlantic, where it is sailing 300 miles south of Iceland toward the North Sea, according to AIS positioning, media reported.
US said using military ‘always an option’ to acquire Greenland with an eye on Arctic region.
The military option is on the table and is being discussed has been confirmed by none other than the White House.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US is also discussing the possible acquisition of Greenland from Denmark or the forming of a compact of free association.
US has boosted up its quest for Greenland with its officials said several options are being discussed for acquiring the semi-autonomous territory, including by use of military force, days after ‘attacking’ Venezuela and capturing its president, Nicolas Maduro, the United States
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” Leavitt said.
“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal,” she added.
Trump has made it well known that he wants the issue to be resolved before the end of his second term.
It was during his first term that Trump expressed his interest in acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory in Denmark.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller had told the US media that the Trump administration has made it its official position that Greenland should be part of the United States.
Trump said the US needs Greenland, after ordering the military action in Venezuela.
Denmark has rejected Trump’s interest in Greenland, with its Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen stated that if America chooses to acquire its territory militarily, that would mark the end of NATO.
Frederiksen told the media this week that if the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily then everything stops. That is, including our NATO, and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War”.
According to NATO’s Article 5, if an alliance ally is attacked, all members will consider it an attack on them as well and do what they require to assist the attacked ally. Denmark is also a NATO member.
Greenland has repeatedly rebuffed the US interest, stating it wishes to retain its current status.
European powers also rallied behind Greenland.
EU leaders asserted that the Arctic territory belongs to its people and any decision on matters concerning it will be taken by Greenland and Denmark
The joint statement was issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
