US Navy Seizes Russian-Flagged Tanker, Escalating Tensions with Russia
DEFENSE
The US Navy, with UK support, seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, marking the first forcible detention of a Russian vessel outside a war zone. Moscow condemned the action as piracy, while the US stated the tanker was a front for transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil. This incident reflects a broader decline in Russian influence and shifts in global energy dynamics, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.

Jan 14, 2026, 2:29 PM