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The British armed forces played a supporting role in the United States’ interception of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, according to a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence. The vessel, known as the Marinera and previously called Bella 1, has ties to Venezuela and was stopped by the US Coast Guard while traveling north between Iceland and Scotland.
The UK’s contribution to the operation included deployment of Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft and the naval support ship RFA Tideforce. These military assets were dispatched at the request of the United States to assist with the seizure. Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that the action complied fully with international law and was part of a broader global initiative aimed at preventing sanctions evasion.
Healey highlighted the significance of the strong defence partnership between the UK and the US, stating, “The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice.” This incident coincides with the US seizure of another Venezuelan-linked tanker named Sophia in the Caribbean, shortly after a US-backed military effort aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The Ministry of Defence revealed that the Marinera was believed to be involved in illicit activities connected to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The vessel had initially flown a false flag, disabled its transponders while at sea, and attempted to reflag while under pursuit. Healey described the tanker as part of a “Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added on BBC Radio 5 Live that the tanker had “a pretty nefarious history” and that the UK’s role was “providing enabling support to the United States.” She explained that the vessel had been sanctioned by the US for attempting to break a blockade near Venezuela in December, as part of counter-Iran sanctions, and referred to the ship as belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet.”
In response, Moscow contended that the Marinera was only temporarily flying the Russian flag and asserted that “no state has the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other countries’ jurisdictions.” Russia also called on the US to ensure the “humane and proper treatment” of Russian nationals aboard the tanker
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