US Seizes 'Ghost Ship' in Atlantic, Sparks Russia Tensions: A Near World War 3?

• US intelligence tracked 'Bella-1' (renamed 'Marinera'), a 'shadow fleet' oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude, evading sanctions.
• The ship repeatedly changed flags (Venezuela, Guyana, Russia) and identity to avoid detection, leading to a high-stakes chase across the Atlantic.
• Russia deployed its advanced frigate 'Admiral Gorshkov' and a 'Yasen Class' nuclear submarine to protect the ship, escalating tensions.
• US para-commandos and Coast Guard seized the 'Marinera' near Iceland, diverting it to Houston before Russian warships arrived.
• The operation aimed to cut Russian war funding, protect the environment, and provide justice for Venezuelan victims, but Russia calls it 'maritime theft'.

Why It Matters: US seizure of a disguised oil tanker in the Atlantic intensifies US-Russia geopolitical rivalry over illicit oil trade.