UK provides ‘enabling support’ to Trump’s seizure of Russian oil tanker

Key Highlights

• Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain’s support for the pre-planned action was in “full compliance with international law” and reiterated that the UK-US defence and security relationship is the “deepest in the world”.
• ‘Marinera’, a Venezuelan-linked tanker previously known as ‘Bella 1’, was sanctioned by the US under its counter-Iran actions and was found to have been flying a false flag before turning off its transponders while at sea as it sought to reflag.
• “Our UK armed forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful US interception of the vessel ‘Bella 1’ while on its way to Russia.
• This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting,” said Healey.
• “This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.