Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/Kremlin/EPA
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
The Wall Street Journal revealed that the Russian Federation sent a submarine and other means to escort the oil tanker Bella 1 – which the US tried to seize from Venezuela.
O Bella 1 has been trying for two weeks to break the naval blockade of forces commanded by Washington, in the Caribbean Sea.
The aforementioned oil tanker, with no load in its tanks, was unable to dock in Venezuela to be loaded and was pursued by the US Coast Guard, who claim it was one of the ships from the so-called “ghost fleet” with the aim of distributing Russian oil to several countries, in a kind of ‘black market’.
The Bella 1 crew repelled an attempted approach by US forces in December and sailed into the Atlantic Ocean. However, a Russian flag was painted on the side (side of the hull) of the ship, renamed “Sailor”.
As you mentioned this morning, the ship is 1000 km north of the Azores.
The consulted experts who reported that Russia is allowing the registration of ships without inspection or other formalities so that they can transport their oil, considered illicit, and obtain economic benefits.
Moscow has already asked Washington to end the persecution of that ship, according to three other North American sources cited, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the regime led by Vladimir Putin declared that it was following the situation with concern.
Trump demands that Caracas cut ties with Russia (but not only)
The Donald Trump Administration informed Venezuela’s interim leader that the country must cut relations with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba as a condition for being able to explore and sell its oil, ABC reported today.
The demand to break relations with Beijing, Moscow, Tehran and Havana would deepen a geopolitical realignment of Caracas, which has historically maintained close ties with these countries, particularly in the energy and financial sphere.
According to the television channel, the White House wants Venezuela to cut ties with these countries before allowing it to export its crude oil again, in a demand that aims to exclusively favor Washington in heavy oil sales.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubioreportedly said in private sessions with lawmakers that the US believes it can put pressure on Caracas because its oil storage tanks are full and warned that Venezuela could enter financial insolvency within weeks if it fails to sell its reserves.
The senator Roger Wicker confirmed in an interview with ABC that the plan is based on control of Venezuelan oil exports and stated that it is not part of the US intention to send US troops.
The Venezuelan provisional government, led by Delcy Rodriguez since Nicolás, on Saturday, has not yet issued an official reaction to the demands communicated by Washington.
On Tuesday, during an extraordinary session of the Organization of American States (OAS), countries such as Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Brazil condemned the US intervention in Caracas and warned that North American interference represents a threat to regional sovereignty.
