UK helps US seize Russian-flagged tanker in act of nuclear insanity

The US has chased down and seized an alleged ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker in the Atlantic. And the UK helped them. Originally bound for Venezuela under an Iranian flag, the Bella 1 never got to its destination. As it fled back across the ocean the crew allegedly changed its name to the Marinera and switched to a Russian flag.

US seizes another tanker… with a little bit of help

The UK initially refused to comment… then proudly admitted it helped the US. Defence Secretary John Healey said:

Today our UK Armed Forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful U.S. 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.

He added:

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’s European Command (EUCOM) also announced the ship had been seized on 7 January. EUCOM said it has a court warrant do so:

The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of
the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro. pic.twitter.com/bm5KcCK30X

— U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) January 7, 2026

In a typically macho post, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said:

The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people. Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce—as determined by the U.S.—will be permitted.

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 7, 2026

US forces also seized a tanker in the Caribbean. The ‘shadow fleets‘ are used as a way for sanctioned states to keep getting accessing to resources like oil.

The Atlantic operation had an added element of nuclear jeopardy. The Russians also sent a submarine to intercept the tanker and guide it home. The Marinera suddenly change course as the situation developed:

Three US Special Ops 'spy' planes landed in north Scotland, to support a possible boarding of the Russian-flagged Oil tanker Marinera (Bella 1, which just changed course for unknown reason)

Latest reports claim a Russian submarine & other navy vessels to escort the tanker.… https://t.co/MIkOjwcyxx pic.twitter.com/kFl647Pb2e

— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) January 7, 2026

Special operations aircraft in the UK

US special forces aircraft landed in the UK in recent days. This may explain UK Defence Journal’s 4 January report that US military planes had started appearing en masse at British airbases:

The aircraft types involved, combined with departure locations and routing patterns, are consistent with the movement of special operations aviation units. Open-source imagery and flight data suggest likely involvement of assets associated with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

Journalist Matt Kennard pointed out the UK air force was also involved:

This US military C-130J Hercules plane set off from "RAF" Fairford in Gloucestershire at 11.30am today

It was flying towards the location of the Russian-flagged oil tanker being attacked by US forces before it turned off its transponder

The plane can carry 64 paratroopers pic.twitter.com/Sq7iNrOjZL

— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) January 7, 2026

Just hours before the admission, a spokesman for UK PM Keir Starmer had refused to confirm the operation involved UK or military assets. He told the BBC:

We don’t comment on the operational activity of other nations, including the third party use of UK bases”.

The US controls 11 military bases in the UK:

Over 12,000 US military personnel are permanently deployed across Britain

At 11 so-called “RAF” bases

They are all under the control of Donald Trump

We never voted for this

We need them to leave. Now pic.twitter.com/78Ak8tJpfK

— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) June 16, 2025

In this sense, the UK is effectively a military colony of the US.

US military aircraft returned to Iceland too:

Two U.S. Navy P-8A “Poseidon” Maritime Patrol and Surveillance Aircraft, along with several U-28A “Draco” Special Operations Aircraft with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), have landed at Keflavík International Airport in Iceland, following this morning’s… pic.twitter.com/nwaQ03nErs

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 7, 2026

A caveat: in this fast-moving situation nothing is certain. But it looks like Trump’s frontier justice policy is becoming more belligerent by the day. Only this time it had clear nuclear implications.

Featured image via the Canary