London, Wednesday 7 January 2026 — Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey addressed Parliament after the UK confirmed that RAF and Royal Navy assets were used to support a US operation to seize the Russian-linked oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic earlier on Wednesday.
The tanker — previously known as Bella 1 — was intercepted by US forces in waters between the UK, Iceland and Greenland after being accused of breaching US sanctions targeting Russia, Iran and Venezuela. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Britain provided “pre-planned operational support” at Washington’s request, including use of UK bases and aerial surveillance, while stressing that no British personnel took part in boarding the vessel. The WP Times reports, citing Reuters, Sky News, the UK Ministry of Defence and US European Command.
What happened
Speaking in an emergency statement to the House of Commons, Mr Healey said the ship was “falsely flagged” and qualified under international law as a “sanctioned, stateless vessel”, making it liable to interception.
“No UK personnel took part in the boarding of the ship,” he told MPs. “But UK forces supported the operation at the request of the United States.”
He said the tanker had refused to comply with US sanctions enforcement on 20 December, after which it was pursued across the Atlantic by the US Coast Guard vessel Monroe before being seized.
“This is a sanctioned, stateless vessel which carries a long history of nefarious activity and shares close links with both Iran and Russia,” Mr Healey said. The vessel is now under US control. Mr Healey praised American forces for their “immense courage and professionalism in dangerous and deteriorating Atlantic sea conditions.”
UK military role
The defence secretary set out Britain’s contribution to the mission, confirming that:
- US forces used UK military bases to launch and support the operation
- RAF aircraft provided surveillance during the pursuit
- the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tideforce provided maritime support
He said the operation formed part of wider efforts to counter “expanding shadowy maritime activity” and to enforce international sanctions.
Sanctions and the “shadow fleet”
Mr Healey said the seizure was aimed at oil shipments linked to Iran and Russia, and at vessels used to evade restrictions.
“A stateless vessel may be lawfully intercepted and subjected to the law of the interdicting state,” he said. “The US enforcement action was based upon counter-Iran sanctions aimed at stopping Iran from fuelling instability through the profits of illegal oil sales.”
He added that the mission had three objectives: enforcing counter-Iran sanctions, disrupting illicit shipping networks, and strengthening British and allied security. Pointing to Russia’s “vast shadow fleet”, he said such vessels were being used to “bankroll its illegal invasion of Ukraine”, including through ships like the Marinera.
“We owe it to the Ukrainians to step up action on these shadow operations, and we are,” he said.
According to the MoD, the UK has sanctioned 544 vessels since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, forcing around 200 ships out of operation. Mr Healey told MPs that Russia’s oil revenues are now 27% lower than in October 2024, calling it “the lowest since the start of its full-scale invasion.” He warned that the global security environment was “changing — less predictable and more dangerous.”
Ukraine and political reaction
Mr Healey also confirmed he would travel to Kyiv “very soon” to continue talks on Ukraine’s long-term military needs and the policing of any future ceasefire. “A secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine,” he said. “But we can only get a peace deal if Putin is ready to make compromises.”
Responding for the Conservatives, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said his party would “absolutely support any efforts to bring peace to Ukraine”, but pressed the government for clarity on any future UK troop deployment — including numbers, roles in any demilitarised zone, and the air and naval assets involved, as well as which countries would take part beyond France and the UK.
The seizure of the Marinera comes amid heightened international tensions over sanctions enforcement against Russia and Iran, and wider disputes following recent US military actions in Venezuela. Moscow has criticised the operation, while the UK government says it will continue to work with Washington to disrupt sanctions-busting oil shipments.
Read about the life of Westminster and Pimlico district, London and the world. 24/7 news with fresh and useful updates on culture, business, technology and city life: Starmer signals Brexit recalibration through new EU law alignment
