US Seizes Tanker in 'International Waters' While Russia's Gaza Statements Ignored
Russia is reportedly quite miffed after the US seized one of its oil tankers in the North Atlantic, with Moscow warning of escalating tensions. The New Arab dutifully reports the outrage (from Russia, naturally). Because, you see, seizing a ship for sanctions violations is perfectly civilized behavior when the US does it. The hypocrisy starts when Russia suggests the US, a country that routinely
patrols and intervenes militarily almost everywhere, might be slightly overstepping. (Oh, the irony of Russia complaining about maritime muscle, you say? Indeed. But where's the consistency from Washington?) This 'respect for international law' rhetoric vanishes faster than humanitarian aid meant for Gaza when it doesn't serve the narrative. Russia has actually called for an immediate ceasefire in
Gaza and condemned Israel for its actions on multiple occasions, including resolutions at the UN Security Council that the US has, predictably, vetoed. (See, for example, the US veto of UNSC Resolution S/2023/850 on October 25, 2023, which called for a humanitarian truce.) So, while one superpower condemns 'unlawful' seizures when it's their tanker, they conveniently ignore international calls for
peace when it involves allies. Some rules are more equal than others, perhaps?