“`html
The British armed forces provided support to the United States in the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The Marinera, a Venezuelan-linked tanker previously identified as the Bella 1, was intercepted by the US Coast Guard while traveling north through the waters between Iceland and Scotland.
The MoD stated that the US requested assistance from the UK, leading to the participation of RAF surveillance aircraft and the Royal Navy support ship, RFA Tideforce, in the operation.
Defence Secretary John Healey affirmed that the action was “in full compliance with international law,” and added that the UK “will not stand by as malign activity increases on the high seas.”
In a statement to MPs on Tuesday explaining the UK’s involvement in the operation, Healey stated that the government was “stepping up activity against shadow vessels.”
The US military’s European Command expressed gratitude to the MoD for its “unwavering support” during the operation in a post on X.
A Downing Street spokesperson reported that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer discussed the joint operation, along with recent discussions on Ukraine and the US operation in Venezuela, during a phone call with President Trump on Wednesday evening.
In a brief statement, the spokesperson noted that the PM “set out his position on Greenland” during the call – the first between the two leaders since the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at the weekend.
On Tuesday Sir Keir stated to the BBC that only Greenland and Denmark should determine the future of the territory, after Trump reiterated his threats to annex it.
The Marinera is alleged to be part of a shadow fleet facilitating oil transport for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran, in violation of US sanctions.
The US Coast Guard possessed a warrant for the ship’s seizure and had previously attempted to board the tanker in the Caribbean last month. However, the tanker drastically altered its course, changed its name, re-registered as a Russian vessel, leading to a two-week pursuit by the US.
Healey stated, “By assisting our US allies in taking this ship off the seas, we are protecting the British people and our nation.”
He noted the ship’s history of “nefarious activity” linked to Russia and Iran, highlighting Iran as a “persistent danger” to the UK.
The vessel, sanctioned by the US since 2024, had transported 7.3 million barrels of oil on behalf of Iran, according to Healey, “the proceeds of which have been used to finance terrorism, threat and instability across the world.”
He also asserted that the shadow fleet was “vital to Putin’s ongoing illegal invasion and war in Ukraine.”
Shadow fleets, also known as ghost fleets, are becoming increasingly prevalent, with Venezuela, Iran, and Russia all accused of employing them to circumvent sanctions on oil.
Financial intelligence firm S&P Global estimates that approximately one in five oil tankers worldwide are utilized for smuggling oil from sanctioned countries. These ships are often aging tankers employing false flags to evade detection.
Healey commended the “courage” of the US forces involved in the operation, clarifying that no UK personnel participated in the boarding of the ship.
The seizure of the Marinera coincided with the US announcement of the seizure of the M/T Sophia, another tanker linked to Venezuela, in the Caribbean, and occurred days after a military operation in Caracas aimed at removing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
In a statement, the MoD indicated that the Marinera was also assessed to have been involved in illegal activity associated with the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.
The statement said: “The ship, initially flying a false flag, turned off its transponders while at sea and sought to reflag while being pursued.”
Moscow has condemned the seizure of the tanker sailing under its flag, demanding that the US ensure the proper treatment of Russian crew members and facilitate their prompt return to Russia.
The transport ministry stated that it had granted the vessel “temporary permission” to use the Russian flag, asserting that no state possesses the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other states’ jurisdictions.
While reports suggested that Russia had dispatched a submarine to safeguard the vessel, US forces were able to board the tanker without encountering resistance.
The US military announced the seizure of the two tankers in separate posts on social media on Wednesday.
Experts told BBC Verify that under UN international maritime law, a stateless vessel can be boarded by authorities.
Venezuela’s leadership is cooperating with the US on the second tanker seized in the Caribbean, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that “in two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two ‘ghost fleet’ tanker ships”.
She said both seized vessels “were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it”.
A woman in a car was shot and killed by a US immigration officer on a residential street in Minnesota.
The ships were boarded by US forces in predawn operations in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
The US has announced the seizure of two oil tankers: the Marinera formerly known as the Bella 1 in the North Atlantic and the Sophia in international waters near the Caribbean.
Officials say sales were expected to start with 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil and the revenue would be controlled by the US government.
The US president’s repeated demands to control Greenland could threaten the Nato military alliance.
“`