The U.S. seized two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports in separate operations on Wednesday, marking the latest escalation in tensions after President Donald Trump ordered the capture and detainment of fallen President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. 

After a weekslong pursuit, military personnel boarded a vessel in the North Atlantic and another in the Caribbean. The Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic was the Marinera, previously known as Bella 1. It was apprehended by U.S. forces as it traveled through waters between Iceland and Scotland. The United Kingdom assisted the U.S. with its seizure of the Marinera, which had journeyed from the Caribbean Sea and was seemingly heading towards Russia.

U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey said the British involvement in the seizure of the oil tanker was “in full compliance with international law,” citing how it had previously breached U.S. sanctions on Iran. In July 2024, when the tanker was still known as Bella 1, the U.S. sanctioned it, accusing the vessel of being involved in the transportation of illicit cargo for a company owned by the militant group Hezbollah.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the tanker as a “Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel deemed stateless after flying a false flag” and cited it had a “judicial order" against it.

“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,” Healey told the U.K. Parliament.

The U.K.’s assistance in the seizure of a tanker that has links to Russia, Iran, and Venezuela has prompted much discussion, especially considering the charged geopolitical landscape at play.

Here’s what we know so far about how the U.K. came to be involved, to what extent they assisted the U.S., and why it’s significant.

Britain provided RAF surveillance craft and a naval support vessel

The Ministry of Defence has debriefed Parliament—and, by extension, the British public—on the U.K.’s involvement in the naval operation.

The U.K. provided pre-planned operational support following a U.S. request for assistance, and allowed U.S. aircraft to use bases to prepare for and carry out the mission.

RFA Tideforce, a British tanker, also supported the U.S. military, while the RAF (Royal Air Force) provided vital “surveillance support from the air.” Operating solely in an assistance capacity, no British troops boarded the seized tanker.

Healey heralded the successful operation and the collaborative efforts that saw the detailed plans come to fruition.

“The U.S. is the U.K.’s closest defense and security partner and the security of the North Atlantic is critical to both our homelands,” said Healey. “The depth of our defense relationship with the U.S. is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice.”

In reference to the Russian-flagged tanker, the U.K. government emphasized that “deterring and disrupting the Russian shadow fleet” remains a top priority. Thus far, the U.K. has imposed sanctions on 520 Russian shadow fleet vessels.

This image from video provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, shows the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro shadowing the MV Bella 1 in the North Atlantic Ocean during the maritime interdiction operation on Jan. 7, 2026. Department of Defense—AP

British involvement in tanker mission comes after U.K. government distanced itself from Trump’s Venezuela operation

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was quick to comment on the U.K.’s lack of involvement following Trump’s controversial operation in Caracas, Venezuela, last weekend.

“The U.K. was not involved, in any way, in this operation,” said Starmer, expressing his desire to discuss the matter with Trump. Starmer added that, while the facts need to be established, his position is clear. “I always say, and believe, we should all uphold international law,” he said.

However, the U.K. didn’t hesitate to assist the U.S. when it came to the shadow fleet vessel floating northwest of Britain.

Andrew Gawthorpe, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London, says the U.K. involvement in this mission was likely “a no-brainer” for Starmer and the Ministry of Defence.

“This vessel is accused of violating the sanctions regime against Iran. The U.K. is a party to that sanctions regime,” Gawthorpe says, adding that “this was a more routine sanctions enforcement mission,” as opposed to the complex issue regarding Venezuela.

Gawthorpe says the collaboration in the North Atlantic is one of great importance and will likely only strengthen the relationship between Starmer and Trump.

“The vessel assistance signals to Trump that the U.K. is capable of providing support to the U.S. and that Europeans can help carry out global defense roles,” he continues. “Starmer can then [hopefully] buy some goodwill with Trump on other issues, such as Ukraine.”

The potential fallout between Russia and the U.K.

Throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Downing Street has maintained strong support for Kyiv, positioning itself as one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s primary allies.

The U.K. is a lead force within the Coalition of the Willing alliance in support of Ukraine. Earlier this week, Starmer committed to having British troops on the ground in Ukraine, should a peace deal come to fruition.

Gawthorpe says the capture of the Russian-flagged tanker, and the U.K.’s enthusiastic support of that, has provided Starmer “an opportunity to send a message, at a relatively low cost and risk, that the U.K. is steadfast in standing against Russia.”

Given the ongoing uncertainty over NATO’s stability following Trump’s renewed interest in annexing Greenland, and disagreements within the E.U. over the potential use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war efforts, any semblance of strength is welcome right now.

“Starmer will have calculated ‘how do I advance my conception of what the U.K.'s core interests are here?’ Such as trying to crack down on Russian financing and trying to signal the solidarity of the Western alliance,” Gawthorpe says. “This capture will help send that message.”

Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned the seizure of the vessel sailing under its flag and has instructed the U.S. to allow any onboard Russians to return home immediately.

A statement by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday claimed the seizure was a “gross violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law.” It further claimed that U.S. authorities had been repeatedly informed of the vessel's “Russian identity and its civilian, peaceful status.”