Three Indian seafarers are among the 28-member crew aboard the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, which was seized by the US Coast Guard in the North Atlantic on January 7. The vessel, previously known as Bella 1, was reportedly en route to a Russian port when American personnel boarded and detained it in international waters. The crew includes 17 Ukrainians, six Georgians, three Indians, and two Russians, according to Russian media.
The confirmed presence of three unidentified Indian seafarers makes the case more than a U.S.-Russia issue, highlighting Russia’s crew welfare demands. The Indian government has not officially commented yet.
The seizure quickly escalated into a diplomatic clash, with Moscow accusing Washington of violating international maritime law. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has demanded the crew’s immediate release and called for “humane and dignified treatment,” highlighting the involvement of the Indian nationals as a factor broadening the dispute beyond US-Russia relations. India has yet to publicly comment on the situation.
Russia maintains that the Marinera was operating legally under a Russian flag and rejects the US action, which it claims is linked to American sanctions and strategy concerning Venezuela. The US has not released details on the legal grounds for the seizure. The fate of the crew, including the three Indians, remains uncertain as diplomatic efforts continue.
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