Will US capture of Russian-flagged tanker lead to conflict with Putin?

Tensions are brewing on the high seas. The United States on Wednesday (January 7) seized a Russia-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the coast of Venezuela. This move raises concerns of a fresh flashpoint between the US and Russia. Moscow has already condemned Washington on the seizure, saying “freedom of navigation applies in waters on the high seas”. This isn’t the only seizure that the US has carried out. America also announced the seizure of another sanctioned tanker, the M/T Sophia, which it said was “conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea.” STORY CONTINUES…