UK helped US seize Russian-flagged tanker, defence ministry says
www.theguardian.com
John Healey confirms RAF provided extra surveillance and navy refuelling while capture under way

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/52995935

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said it had provided military help to the US forces that seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker north-west of the British Isles, arguing the operation was legitimate because the vessel had breached sanctions on Iran.

John Healey, the defence secretary, said the UK had allowed US aircraft to use bases to prepare for and carry out the mission, while the RAF had provided extra surveillance and the navy refuelling while the final capture was under way.

Healey said British involvement was justified under international law because the Marinera, which was sailing from the Caribbean Sea towards Russia, had previously been placed under sanctions when it was known as the Bella 1.

“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,” the defence secretary said.

  • empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    253·
    2 days ago

    Since Trump will likely put the proceeds of this oil in his personal pockets, this is probably just a payoff from Putin for ruining America’s standing in international defence circles. Putin doesn’t give a rip about a few million barrels of oil in the long run. They’ll rattle sabers publically for a week and then pretend it didn’t happen.

    • FishFace@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      17 hours ago

      The ship is believed to be empty and Russia allowed the ship to register under a Russian flag and then logged diplomatic protests about its seizure.

      You need to be deep in the conspiracy swamp to believe Russia wanted this to happen.

    • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
      86·
      2 days ago

      Sometimes the bots are right, they’re just pushing it for an agenda that happens to align with reality at the time.

      • UsernameHere@lemmy.worldEnglish
        43·
        2 days ago

        Russia and Iran want their shadow fleet of tankers to continue to fuel the genocide in Ukraine.

        Claiming the bots are right is just support for the genocide in Ukraine.

        • mrdown@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          17 hours ago

          Can china and russia sanctions the west for fueling the genocide in Gaza?

        • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
          42·
          1 day ago

          Claiming the bots are right is just support for the genocide in Ukraine.

          That’s not the case at all. Things can be illegal and still morally right.

          Trying to conflate the two for simplicity is irresponsible. That’s how you get Israel claiming their genocide in Gaza is justified as self defense from one attack (which may have been partially orchestrated by part of the Israeli government in the first place).

      • UsernameHere@lemmy.worldEnglish
        55·
        2 days ago

        Russia invaded Ukraine and Iran assists. They were sanctioned as a result of those actions. The shadow fleet that is supplying fuel for the genocide in Ukraine must be stopped.

        I would feel the same way regardless of who was contributing to the genocide.