A recent seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker was met with criticism internationally.<\/b>
\nTrump administration officials are defending the seizure of a Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday, citing concerns ranging from national security to access to oil in Venezuela.
The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the Marinera in the early hours of Wednesday morning, following a two-week pursuit from the Caribbean, where the Russian-flagged vessel reportedly tried to run the US blockade of Venezuela. The vessel was previously known as M\/V Bella 1.
The U.S. European Command said the operation was carried out in coordination with the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of War for \u201cviolations of U.S. sanctions.\u201d
Officials in the Trump administration were quick to praise the move. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation was in keeping with the blockade \u201cagainst all dark fleet vessels.\u201d
\u201cOnly legitimate and lawful energy commerce\u2014as determined by the U.S. will be permitted,\u201d Hegseth wrote on X.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem heaped praise on President Donald Trump for what she called \u201chis bold and visionary leadership\u201d in directing the operation.
\u201cThe world\u2019s criminals are on notice. You can run, but you can\u2019t hide,\u201d Noem said.
Outside of the Trump administration, the operation was met with fierce criticism from observers. The Russian Ministry of Transport said the raid violated the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
\u201cNo state has the right to use force against ships that are duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,\u201d it said in a statement on Telegram. One Russian lawmaker called the raid an act of \u201cpiracy.\u201d
U.N. security experts said the operation, along with the strikes and blockade of Venezuela, \u201care contrary to international and humanitarian law.\u201d
\u201cWe urge United Nations Member States to condemn the aggression by the United States and act decisively to halt all actions contrary to international law,\u201d the experts said in a statement.<\/p>\n