Russia has sharply condemned the U.S. seizure of the Venezuela-linked, Russian-flagged oil tanker 'Bella 1' in the North Atlantic, accusing Washington of violating international maritime law and freedom of navigation after U.S. forces boarded the vessel pursuant to a U.S. federal court warrant. The move followed a weeks-long pursuit across international waters and is part of the Trump administration’s intensified enforcement of sanctions tied to Venezuelan oil exports. Moscow said no state has the right to use force against a ship flying its flag, calling the action potentially unlawful, even as the U.S. and allied forces—including reported UK support—defend the seizure as a crackdown on sanctions-busting activities.
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