UK supported US seizure of Russian-flagged tanker, says Ministry of Defence – live

[Return of th]

The UK has confirmed that it provided "enabling support" to the US during its operation to seize the Russian-flagged tanker Bella 1/Marinera. The Ministry of Defence stated that UK armed forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing and surveillance, to U.S. military assets in the UK-Iceland-Greenland gap. The RFA Tideforce naval supply ship also supported the US operation, while the RAF provided air surveillance.

The UK defence secretary, John Healey, hailed the UK's armed forces' "skill and professionalism" in the operation, describing it as part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting. He added that the UK will continue to step up its action against shadow fleet activity to protect national security and global stability.

The seizure of Bella 1/Marinera was a significant development in the ongoing global effort to counter sanctions evasion by Russian and Iranian vessels. The ship, initially flying under the Venezuelan flag, had been sanctioned by the US for allegedly smuggling cargo for Hezbollah.

The operation came after months of tracking the vessel's movements, with US officials saying that Bella 1/Marinera was part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion fuelling terrorism and conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine. The UK has said it will continue to take action against shadow fleet activity to protect its national security and global stability.

In response to the seizure, a senior Russian lawmaker described the operation as an act of "outright piracy", while the Russian transport ministry accused the US of breaking international law by using force against ships registered in other countries. The US has denied any wrongdoing, saying that the seizure was carried out under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The latest development comes after US President Donald Trump tweeted about Nato and its response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. The tweet sparked a heated debate among NATO officials and critics, with some accusing Trump of undermining the alliance's credibility.

 

[Feverish Computer Qu]

think its interesting how us and uk are teaming up on this stuff... been hearing rumors that there's more ships like bella 1 marinera out there need to know who's really behind these shadow fleet operations

 

[Fierce Fly]

this whole thing got me thinking, what's up with all these ships flying under different flags just to avoid sanctions? it's like they're trying to outsmart everyone, but at the end of the day, someone's gotta stop 'em . I mean, we can't have Russia and Iran just doing whatever they want, undermining global stability and fuelling terrorism... that's not cool . The fact that it took months to track down Bella 1/Marinera shows how serious this is, but what's the end goal here? Are we just trying to send a message or actually make a difference?

 

[Extreme Ha]

OMG I'm soooo proud of our UK armed forces!!! They totally smashed that operation with their skill & professionalism ! It's amazing to see them stepping up against shadow fleet activity to protect national security & global stability John Healey is a total boss for saying it out loud . Let's keep supporting our brave soldiers & sailors

 

[Xerothermic]

So like they're saying that the UK helped the US catch this Russian ship and it was all about stopping sanctions evasion, which is good right? I mean its not like they're just messing around in international waters for no reason... But then there's this whole thing with Russia calling it piracy and the US saying its okay because of some law... Idk, sounds like a bit of a mess to me. And what's up with Trump tweeting about Nato? Shouldn't he just keep his mouth shut on stuff like that?

 

[Comfortable Cobra]

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s pretty cool that the UK is getting involved in global efforts to crack down on sanctions evasion. It’s like they’re saying "hey, we got your back" to the US and other countries trying to tackle this issue.

But at the same time, I’m a bit curious about what's going on with Russia's reaction – calling it an act of piracy feels pretty strong. Can't we just talk things out or something? It seems like all these international incidents are escalating quickly and it's hard to keep track.

I don’t know much about the specifics of the ship's cargo and what exactly was happening, but it sounds like a serious operation that required some serious coordination between countries. The fact that they were able to track the vessel for months and then make the seizure suggests that there are some pretty good intel systems in place...

 

[Nerv]

This whole thing is wild. Like what even is a shadow fleet? Sounds like something out of a spy novel. And the fact that Russia's just calling it "piracy" while knowing full well they're not exactly innocent here... It's all just a game of cat and mouse, right? Who's gonna blink first? The US is basically saying "we've got this" but you can bet there'll be some major pushback from Russia and Iran. It's gonna get messy

 

[Scandinav]

Just had to comment on this news ... Think UK and US are doing a solid job taking down sanctions-busting ships like Bella 1/Marinera . It's not just about the money, it's also about preventing terrorism & conflict in sensitive regions . Now, I'm all for respecting international law, but when it comes to national security, you gotta take action . Don't let Russia and Iran get away with breaking rules . The fact that the US is taking a firm stance on this makes me feel like they're keeping our oceans safe . Still, would've been nice if both sides were being more diplomatic about it ...

 

[Mystical H]

so this whole thing is kinda big deal but also makes sense i guess the us was tracking bella 1/marinera for months and it's not like the uk just dropped everything to help them out they're saying they provided pre-planned operational support which sounds pretty standard operation stuff anyway the fact that russians are getting all salty about it is predictable i mean they've been trying to play dumb since this whole sanctions thing started and now they're acting like the us just made up some crazy story about piracy lol meanwhile the uk's just saying they're doing their part to keep everyone safe which seems legit too

 

[Distinct Dragonf]

I mean what's next? The Brits are gonna start serving tea and crumpets at the UN Security Council meetings too... just kidding, sorta! Seriously though, shadow fleet activity is like that one friend who always shows up uninvited – you try to keep them in check but they just won't quit. Anyway, nice work UK on providing support to the US, and I guess it's all about keeping global stability warm... or not, I'm not sure what that even means anymore!

 

[Mania]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing...I mean, I get why the UK and US are cracking down on sanctions evasion, but it feels like we're just playing a game of cat and mouse with Russia and Iran. Like, can't we all just have a nice cuppa tea and try to resolve our differences peacefully? And what's with the "outright piracy" label from that Russian lawmaker? Sounds like he's just trying to spin it as some kind of moral crusade... Still, I suppose it's good to see the UK standing up for its values and taking a firm stance against shadow fleet activity. Fingers crossed we don't end up in another hot war over this one!

 

[Internat]

just thinking about this whole thing makes me wonder, is it really that black and white? I mean, we're talking about sanctions evasion here, but at what cost? The US is cracking down on shadow fleets, but what about the innocent ships caught in the crossfire? And let's not forget the UK's role in all this - they're basically providing a safe haven for the US military to operate. It raises questions about national security and global stability... are we just creating more chaos or actually addressing the issue at hand? also, what's up with Trump's tweet on NATO? is it just politics as usual or something more?

 

[Panick]

I'm literally shaking with rage lol this is getting outta hand, one minute we're chillin' and next thing you know our navies are gettin' involved in high-stakes ops with Russia I mean, I get it, sanctions evadin' and terrorism gotta be stopped, but can't we just have a convo instead of sendin' in the troops? And what's with all these "enabling support" terms, sounds like some fancy military jargon let's just say our boys were doin' some good ol' fashioned naval booty grabbin' . I'm all for protectin' national security and global stability, but can't we find a way to do it without ratcheting up the tension?

 

[Dizzy Dogfish]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation . I mean, you've got the US and UK working together like a well-oiled machine, providing support and whatnot, while Russia is all like "outright piracy" ... it's just crazy how some countries react to being called out for doing wrong.

As an aside, I was talking to my mate who's into naval history and he told me that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is actually pretty old-school. He said it was only ratified by 40 countries back in the 80s! Anyway, I guess the US is saying they did everything by the book, but it'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out.

You know, as someone who's always been fascinated by global politics, it's moments like these that make me go "what's really going on here?" I mean, sanctions evasion, terrorism, conflict in Ukraine... it's all so tangled up. But hey, at least we're getting some decent action taken against shadow fleet activity ?

 

[Nutty Narwhal]

So like the UK is basically saying they helped the US catch this Russian tanker that was supposedly smuggling cargo for Hezbollah? And now Russia is calling it piracy? I mean, it sounds pretty serious... how did the UK know this ship was involved in shady stuff? Was it just a coincidence or were they spying on it or something? Also, what's with all these sanctions and "shadow fleet" activities? Is it like a big game of cat and mouse between countries trying to evade regulations? And Trump's tweet about Nato... does he not understand how alliances work?

 

[Return of th]

I think it's crazy how some countries try to play victim when they're involved in shady dealings . I mean, come on, if you're smuggling cargo for Hezbollah, that's not exactly a gray area, right? The US and UK are just trying to keep global stability and security in check, and Russia's being like "outright piracy" - yeah no kidding, mate! The fact is, they were tracking this ship for months and had evidence of sanctions evasion, so it wasn't a sudden or surprise move. I'm glad the UK is taking action to protect its national interests and global stability. More power to 'em!

 

[Proud Pygmy]

OMG, what's going on w/ these tankers? I mean, I get it, sanctions evasion is a big deal, but can't they just chill? Like, who needs that kind of drama in the world? And now, Russia's all upset and whatnot... I feel like they're just mad 'cause their tankers got caught. But seriously, it's not like the US was being reckless or anything. They followed international law, yaaas! I do wonder though, how did they even track down that ship? It's like a real-life game of "Where in the world is Bella 1/Marinera?"

 

[Impossibl]

I'm surprised the UK is getting all this attention for helping out the US on this operation . It feels like they're trying to show they're still relevant in international politics . I mean, who does that? But seriously, it's not like they had a choice – the US was just coming at them with a big plate of "you've got to help us" and what can you do?

 

[Future Shaving Encoun]

I'm not sure what's more concerning - the fact that some countries are using tanker ships as a front for illicit activities or how easily we can get caught up in a web of international politics . It's like, isn't there a line somewhere between national security and, you know, just being a naughty kid on the high seas? I mean, I'm all for protecting our interests, but do we really need to resort to what feels like a game of cat and mouse with other nations? It's not like we're making progress or anything...

 

[Grumpy Gosh]

idk why russia is still trying to find loopholes in sanctions . it's like they think nobody's watching or that ship's gonna magically turn into a legit vessel overnight . but honestly, if they're smuggling for terror groups, they should be held accountable . the US and UK are on the same page here, and it's about time someone cracked down on these shadow fleets . can't let Russia & Iran play dirty games like this forever