Russia has formally asked the United States to halt its pursuit of an oil tanker that has been fleeing the U.S. Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the New York Times.

The tanker, identified by maritime tracking groups as Bella 1, had been heading to Venezuela and has been followed by American forces for nearly two weeks.

The formal request was reportedly sent late on New Year’s Eve to the U.S. Department of State and also shared with the White House’s Homeland Security Council.

U.S. authorities have said the tanker is a stateless vessel, stating it was not flying a valid national flag when the Coast Guard attempted to stop and board it in the Caribbean Sea.

They said this made the ship open to boarding under international law and that a seizure warrant had been issued. However, the crew refused to comply and sailed back into the Atlantic.

In response, the tanker’s crew attempted to claim Russian protection. Per reports, a Russian flag was painted on the ship’s side, and radio messages were sent to the Coast Guard asserting it was operating under Russian authority.

The vessel later appeared in Russia’s official ship register under a new name, Marinera, with Sochi on the Black Sea listed as its home port.

Despite this, the U.S. administration continues to regard the tanker as stateless. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously about the ongoing law enforcement matter, said the later registration does not change the vessel’s status because it was allegedly flying a false flag when first approached.

On Wednesday, the United States imposed sanctions on four companies said to be operating in Venezuela’s oil industry, along with associated tankers.

These measures are part of the Trump administration’s effort to curb oil exports that have sustained Venezuela’s economy, much of which is shipped to China.

As part of this campaign, U.S. forces have already boarded and taken possession of two other tankers in the Caribbean and have indicated plans to seize more ships. The Bella 1 pursuit is linked to these enforcement measures.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has reportedly ordered the Venezuelan Navy to accompany some tankers leaving the country and has considered placing troops onboard, which could heighten the risk of confrontation with U.S. forces.

In a recent call between the foreign ministers of Russia and Venezuela, Moscow reportedly reaffirmed its “all-out support and solidarity” with the Venezuelan leadership and people, according to a summary released by Russia’s foreign ministry.

Reference: nytimes