The USA has seized a Russian tanker in the Atlantic: How Trump is causing problems for Putin.

According to ТСН: While the White House talks about striving for 'strategic stability' with Moscow, the administration of US President Donald Trump has carried out a risky operation against Russia by seizing an oil tanker sailing under the Russian flag in the North Atlantic. This turned out to be a more difficult task for the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, than initially expected in the Kremlin.

At the end of December, the Trump team announced that it was aiming for 'strategic stability with Russia', but this soon faced another important task - demonstrating the power of the United States on the international stage.

The seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker

On January 7, the USA took one of the most crucial steps against Moscow by seizing an oil tanker under the Russian flag in the North Atlantic.

In Washington, it was stated that they were acting as part of the control over the blockade of Venezuelan oil, and they characterized the detained ship, which had been hiding for over two weeks, as 'stateless'. In Moscow, this was interpreted as another hostile move by the USA that could harm Russian interests.

Trump's strategic strategy towards Russia

This situation highlighted the internal contradictions of Trump's strategy, as he tries to maintain contact with Putin while emphasizing the USA's position in the world, which creates tensions and risks for both sides.

Trump is trying to use power to protect national interests - which aligns with Putin's view of the world, divided between great powers. However, this approach worsens relations with Russia, particularly in Latin America, where the Kremlin wants to strengthen its influence.

"How many problems is Trump solving for Putin? In my opinion, very few. It seems that he creates much more problems than he solves," emphasized the director of the Kennan Institute in Washington, Michael Kimmage.

Trump's actions towards Ukraine, Europe, and Venezuela

Despite numerous contacts with Putin, Trump has not succeeded in getting Ukraine to agree to Russian conditions, and the USA continues to provide important intelligence information for Kyiv.

In Europe, Trump's conflicts with allies provoke satisfaction in the Kremlin, but at the same time, they lead Europeans to invest more in defense, which does not benefit Moscow.

Trump's actions in Venezuela confirmed the concept of spheres of influence and demonstrated the Kremlin's inability to support its allies. The arrest of President Nicolás Maduro was another blow against pro-Russian leaders.

In the Western Hemisphere, US policy towards Russia remains tough. Washington openly declares the use of Moscow's partnership with Venezuela to expand influence in Latin America, while Maduro's arrest is intended to prevent this.

The USA undermines the RF's 'shadow fleet' system

According to NYT, the USA is pressuring the transitional government in Venezuela to withdraw foreign agents and military from China, Russia, Cuba, and Iran. At the same time, American actions block Venezuelan oil exports and undermine the 'shadow fleet' system that Russia and other sanctioned countries use.

The American armed forces employed unprecedented measures on January 7 to seize the tanker, which had previously evaded arrest in the Caribbean. In an attempt to escape, the ship, known as Bella 1, raised the Russian flag while the RF sent a warship to escort it and presented the USA with a diplomatic note.

Nevertheless, the USA carried out the operation using combat aircraft from British bases. The crew of the ship could be brought to the United States for prosecution.

The Kremlin seeks to avoid escalation

Moscow has spoken of a violation of international law and demanded the release of the Russians on board, but no threats were made. Putin and the military leadership of the RF refrained from any comments. This reaction shows the Kremlin's desire to avoid escalation, similar to earlier situations where the USA has attacked Russian interests.

"Russia is not a country that can rely solely on violent power. This is the contradiction of the Putin model, and ironically, Trump could help demonstrate this," Kimmage summarized.

At the RF Foreign Ministry, they called on the USA to immediately return the crew of the tanker Marinera, which was seized by American special forces. Sergey Lavrov characterized Washington's actions as 'unacceptable' and demanded 'humane treatment' for the Russian sailors, even though the ship was seized due to sanctions.

US Vice President Jay D. Vance called the seized tanker Marinera a 'fake Russian ship'. In his opinion, the ship, previously known as Bella 1, changed its registration to Russian in December to receive RF protection and evade sanctions. At the time of the arrest, there was no oil on board, but Washington identified the tanker as part of the 'shadow fleet' serving the interests of Venezuela.

This situation highlights the increasing tensions in relations between the USA and Russia, exacerbated by conflicts in Latin America and by Trump's criticism of his approach to the Ukraine issue. After the seizure of the tanker, there could again be an increased focus on military measures in the American efforts to solidify their position on the international stage. The Kremlin, on the other hand, finds itself in a difficult position as it tries to avoid escalation of the conflict while simultaneously defending its interests on the world stage.