British armed forces provided support to the US’s seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.
The Marinera, a Venezuelan-linked vessel previously known as Bella-1, was captured by US forces on Wednesday as it travelled north and eastwards through the waters between Iceland and Scotland.
RAF surveillance craft and a naval supply ship, the RFA Tideforce, were among the British military assets which took part in the operation, according to the MoD.
The capture of the Marinera, which appeared bound for a Russian Arctic port, could prove a new flashpoint in relations between the West and Moscow, whose transport ministry appeared to suggest the international law of the sea had been breached.
The sanctioned tanker has been pursued by the US over several weeks, after it apparently escaped what Donald Trump described as the “total naval blockade” of Venezuela put in place in December.
Another Venezuela-linked tanker, the Sophia, was also seized by the US during a “pre-dawn” raid in the Caribbean on Wednesday, according to the US Southern Command.
The MoD insisted Britain’s support in capturing the Marinera was “in full compliance with international law”.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Today our UK Armed Forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful US interception of the vessel Bella 1 while on its way to Russia. This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting.
“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 UK will continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy and global stability – making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
“The US is the UK’s closest defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice.”
In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident.
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 7, 2026
The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and… pic.twitter.com/JQm9gHprPk
The MoD added that the ship had initially flown a false flag and is assessed to have been involved in illegal activity linked to Hezbollah.
It is subject to anti-Iranian sanctions by the US, as part of efforts to stop the regime in Tehran from selling oil.
Russia’s transport ministry said it had granted the Marinera, previously flagged in Guyana, a “temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag” on Christmas eve.
It added that “no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states” under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea.
Read MoreFerrari once owned by Trump heads to auction with an estimated $1 million price tag
Britain is now helping Trump play Big Man in the Atlantic with oil tanker raid
Ireland ‘monitoring’ situation with Venezuelan oil tanker – minister