Russia condemns seizure of oil tanker flying its flag

The Russian government has criticized the U.S. Coast Guard's seizure of an oil tanker flying its flag this week.

American forces seized the tanker, which was originally flying the flag of Guyana before it hoisted the Russian tricolor. Moscow insisted that the ship had its permission to fly its flag, according to The Hill.

The U.S. asserts that the ship is part of a shadow fleet operating to evade sanctions amid Washington's pressure campaign against Iran and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“No state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” the Russian Transportation Ministry said.

The seizure comes as the United States continues its blockade of Venezuela in the wake of its extraction of President Nicolás Maduro for trial in New York.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.