Britain is helping the US seize a Russian oil tanker in the Atlantic
The United Kingdom has officially announced that it provided crucial operational and logistical support to the United States, contributing to the successful seizure of a Russian oil tanker by US forces in the North Atlantic. This operation falls within the framework of close military cooperation between the two allies to enforce international sanctions and pursue vessels violating maritime law.
In detailing the operation, the British Ministry of Defence issued a statement confirming that its forces provided coordinated assistance to US forces in intercepting the vessel Bella 1 (later renamed Marinera). The interception took place in the strategic sea lane between Britain, Iceland, and Greenland, in response to a formal request for assistance from the US.
British support included allowing US forces to use at least one airbase for their operations, as well as providing Royal Air Force personnel with close air surveillance of the area. Britain also provided a supply ship to provide logistical support to US naval vessels during their pursuit and interception of the Russian tanker, reflecting the high level of coordination between the two countries in complex maritime operations.
Legal and political details
For his part, British Defence Secretary John Healey explained in a briefing to Parliament that British involvement was limited to remote logistical and operational support, emphasizing that "no British military personnel boarded the tanker." Healey pointed to the legal basis for the operation, explaining that the tanker Bella 1 was sailing without a recognized flag, flying a false Russian flag, which classified it as a "stateless" vessel under international law. This gives states the right to intercept, inspect, and subject it to the laws of the state imposing sanctions.
Context of sanctions and international tension
This incident takes on particular significance in the current tense geopolitical context, as the United States and its allies seek to tighten the noose on oil smuggling networks used by Russia and Venezuela to circumvent Western sanctions. The North Atlantic, specifically the corridor between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, is a strategically vital maritime chokepoint for monitoring Russian naval movements westward.
The United States had announced the seizure of the tanker as part of its embargo on Venezuelan oil shipments. Tensions escalated further with US media reports that Moscow had dispatched a submarine to escort the tanker, transforming the interception into a complex military operation. Simultaneously, Washington also announced the interception of another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, flying no flag and subject to US sanctions, with the intention of escorting it to US ports. This underscores Washington's determination to dismantle what are known as "shadow fleets" transporting illicit oil.
