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WW3? Russian tanker to be intercepted by USN?

Planigale

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Planigale
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A tanker that 'escaped' from Venezuela has reflagged as Russian and is now in the North Atlantic.
www.bbc.co.uk

Russia sends navy to guard oil tanker being pursued by US forces

US officials say that American forces plan to seize the Russian-flagged ship, which is accused of breaking sanctions.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
This brings it within the 'protection' of the Russian navy, meanwhile the US seems to be bringing resources to board to the UK. In theory military action against a Russian vessel from UK based US forces should be approved by the UK but who believes that?
Given the location of the the tanker it is likely at least one Russian guided missile frigate is nearby, close enough that an air assault is vulnerable. Close enough that Russian marines could be landed on the tanker.
Close enough to open conflict between Russia and the US, certainly the highest risk of conflict since the Cuba crisis and this time not in the US back yard.
 
Lots of nations are cracking down on Russia's shadow fleet. Finland has already boarded another one, and Estonia has interdicted at least one so far. This isn't the WW3 you are looking for.

The way I see it, "the world" - i.e., Western Europe and its allies (or "allies" in the case of the US) are already at war with Russia (and its "allies"). Have been for some time, even. The current hybrid unpleasantness is just a new chapter in the Cold War (which I consider to be WW3).
 
Yeah, I think the shadow fleet has been attacked numerous times, often by Ukrainian commandos. In fact, one of the suspects in the NordStream bombing is also suspected of attacking a shadow fleet tanker.

Keep up the pressure on the Russians!
 
angrysoba said:
Yeah, I think the shadow fleet has been attacked numerous times, often by Ukrainian commandos. In fact, one of the suspects in the NordStream bombing is also suspected of attacking a shadow fleet tanker.

Keep up the pressure on the Russians!
Click to expand...
The difference being that the vessels weren't Russian flagged. (excepting direct Ukraine Russia combat), and that the Russian navy wasn't escorting them. Perhaps we will see a convoy process with tankers escorted to ensure their safety and the maintenance of free trade and transit on the high seas against the risk of US piracy and murder of non-US citizens.

www.bbc.co.uk

Russia sends navy to guard oil tanker being pursued by US forces

US officials say that American forces plan to seize the Russian-flagged ship, which is accused of breaking sanctions.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
Planigale said:
The difference being that the vessels weren't Russian flagged. (excepting direct Ukraine Russia combat), and that the Russian navy wasn't escorting them. Perhaps we will see a convoy process with tankers escorted to ensure their safety and the maintenance of free trade and transit on the high seas against the risk of US piracy and murder of non-US citizens.

www.bbc.co.uk

Russia sends navy to guard oil tanker being pursued by US forces

US officials say that American forces plan to seize the Russian-flagged ship, which is accused of breaking sanctions.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...
Russian oil trade is the subject of multilateral sanctions, due to its invasion of Ukraine. Russia's sanction-dodging shadow fleet is foreign flagged in a futile attempt to avoid interduction.

It's comical that you believe actual Russian-flagged vessels should be exempt from sanctions. It's horrifying that you would portray enforcement of the sanctions as piracy. You're literally spouting Moscow's propaganda.
 
theprestige said:
Russian oil trade is the subject of multilateral sanctions, due to its invasion of Ukraine. Russia's sanction-dodging shadow fleet is foreign flagged in a futile attempt to avoid interduction.

It's comical that you believe actual Russian-flagged vessels should be exempt from sanctions. It's horrifying that you would portray enforcement of the sanctions as piracy. You're literally spouting Moscow's propaganda.
Click to expand...

Do the sanctions cover Russian tankers carrying non-Russian oil? (Serious question, not some kind of gotcha.)
 
theprestige said:
Russia buys oil from Venezuela. Presumably the sanctions cover those shipments. It boggles my mind, that some people are so keen to find loopholes for Russians.
Click to expand...

The sanctions information I can find says the sanctioning countries will not import Russian oil products. If there's some reason in law that a Russian ship cannot carry Venezuelan oil products, I don't know what it is. Please don't distress yourself that I'm eager to find a loophole for the Russians. I am not.
 
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The shadow fleet has been connected to drones over nearby sensitive areas to the ships and breaks in underwater cables since this war started.

This is usually good enough reason to suspect any shadow fleet vessel is up to state business for Russia at all times.
But if one is simply carrying Venezuelan crude from the ports there it should be OK.

How does anyone know the difference without boarding them? This is a problem Putin created. The world deals with it.
 
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