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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.
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.
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.