Tensions are rising in the Atlantic after the US Coast Guard seized the Russian oil tanker Mariner, prompting Washington to signal criminal charges against its crew. The move comes as part of a crackdown on ships accused of ferrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that the crew’s defiance of Coast Guard commands necessitated a full probe. She highlighted their efforts to ‘save’ the tanker, which US authorities claim was flouting sanctions. Bondi stressed that the Justice Department is eyeing multiple similar vessels, promising accountability for non-compliance.

From Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry voiced sharp concern, stating it is closely monitoring US actions on board. ‘We demand that the US ensure humanitarian treatment, uphold the rights of our citizens, and return them home without delay,’ the ministry declared.

Background details reveal the seizures: Mariner was nabbed in the North Atlantic, while Sophia, flying Panama’s flag, was taken in the Caribbean—both on January 7. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt suggested the crew could face US courts for alleged federal law breaches.

Invoking international maritime rules, Russia’s Transport Ministry asserted via TASS that force cannot be used against foreign-registered ships under the UN’s 1982 Law of the Sea Convention. This legal back-and-forth amplifies strains already evident in US-Russia ties.

The saga spotlights the high-stakes game of sanctions evasion in global shipping lanes. With probes underway and rhetoric intensifying, observers watch for ripples across energy markets and geopolitical fault lines.