In a significant maritime development, the United States has seized the oil tanker *Marinera*, which was sailing under the Russian flag, approximately 200 kilometers off Iceland’s coast, reports RÚV.
US authorities had been monitoring the vessel for more than two weeks as it made its way toward Venezuela, with Russian warships, including a submarine, deployed to escort it.
In a decisive move, US officials have pledged to intercept all oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, a response rooted in the country’s ongoing political turmoil and the contentious seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s assets.
RÚV notes that the *Marinera* was operating within Iceland’s Exclusive Economic Zone when the US military intervened. Importantly, the vessel remained outside of Iceland’s territorial waters, which may clarify some public confusion surrounding the incident. It is essential to understand that foreign ships possess the right to navigate freely within an Exclusive Economic Zone, and all nations may lay submarine cables there as well.
The Icelandic Coast Guard had been monitoring the *Marinera*, although it did not take any active measures to intervene. It remains unclear whether the Icelandic Foreign Ministry was informed about the operation or had prior knowledge of the engagement.
In parallel, concerns have been mounting regarding US interests in Greenland. Reports from Greenlandic media outlet Sermitsiaq indicate that a meeting is set for next week between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Greenland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt.
Featured here is an archival photo of the Icelandic Coast Guard, used solely for illustrative purposes.
