Big power standoff developing on the high seas.

 U.S.  FOLLOWING RUSSIAN FLAGGED TANKER IN THE NORTH SEA

PREPERATIONS FOR BOARDING UNDERWAY?

The saga of the Bella1 tanker that resisted U.S. navy boarding off the coast of Venezuela and later ran up the Russian flag and became listed by Russia as the Mariana continues. The ship now in the North Atlantic and headed for the Russian port of Murmansk is being pursued by a U.S. coast guard cutter and it is reported that assets out of the UK are expected to attempt an intercept. It is supposed to be also being followed by a Russian submarine and that Russian surface assets are expecting to escort this ship through the Baltic sea.

At the same time as many as 16 other tankers and ships have left the Venezuelan waters in violation of the U.S. blockade. It seems they are traveling together making it difficult to stop or board. The U.S. may be resigned to allow departing shipping to leave the region and instead focus on incoming vessels. 

It seems that now all shipping through the Caribbean has begun to be more costly due to increased insurance rates and expected delays.

The status of the Mariana will be resolved soon as it will soon enter the Baltic sea, but the increase in sabotage of Russian tankers, some claim as CIA operations, will likely result in a confrontation sooner or later. Not just between Russia and the U.S. but possibly in the south China sea or the straits of Hormuz. The U.S. is not a party to the Freedom of Seas treaty and may feel it can enforce U.S. sanctions anywhere in the world. 

The U.S. considers sanctions equivalent to international law and considers any attempt to bypass those sanctions as enforceable by military action. It may become reality in the Caribbean, but will be challenged in other parts of the world.