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USA Forces board Russian Flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic

(47 Posts)
fancythat Wed 07-Jan-26 16:38:44

Question : If the UK has to decide between the US and NATO, which will/would it choose?

fancythat Wed 07-Jan-26 16:37:28

Fallingstar

Well the US is certainly into prodding several hornets nests at the moment, let’s just hope it isn’t all of us that get stung.
Whatever next??

As far as I am concerned, he has the capabilities to prod a few more yet.

fancythat Wed 07-Jan-26 16:36:25

Well his actions suggest he is "on the side of the US".
Or bowed to them or something.

Fallingstar Wed 07-Jan-26 16:36:03

Well the US is certainly into prodding several hornets nests at the moment, let’s just hope it isn’t all of us that get stung.
Whatever next??

GrannyGravy13 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:34:44

News is definitely sketchy

I wonder if our PM will put out a statement of any sort?

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:33:29

eazybee

The ship is stateless because it changed flags while at sea, I believe.
The belief is that there is something on board that the Russians do not want the West to see.

Not necessarily stateless - ships regularly change flags whilst at sea. It is accepted provided the new flags owners register their ownership.

No one knows yet

GrannyGravy13 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:30:23

eazybee

The ship is stateless because it changed flags while at sea, I believe.
The belief is that there is something on board that the Russians do not want the West to see.

Thanks eazybee I think that was mentioned on the BBC News at 4pm, I had noisy and excited GC here and wasn’t 100% certain I had heard correctly.

eazybee Wed 07-Jan-26 16:27:36

The ship is stateless because it changed flags while at sea, I believe.
The belief is that there is something on board that the Russians do not want the West to see.

MaizieD Wed 07-Jan-26 16:24:19

Oh, GG13 posted while I was writing. She says the Caribbean tanker was Russian registered, too.

Did you get that from another news source, GG13?

MaizieD Wed 07-Jan-26 16:22:06

I was wondering just the same as GG13.

What will Trump's good friend Putin think of this?

But, from the BBC News site:

The ship is accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil - it's historically transported Venezuelan crude oil but reports say it's empty at the moment

So I don't suppose Putin will be so upset as he would have been if it were full.

I note that the tanker seized in the Caribbean wasn't registered. No report on whether or not it was full.

hazel93 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:19:00

What next ?? Surely time for NATO to actually show a bit of muscle ! The US , although Trump thinks is omnipotent , relies on allies around the globe allowing military bases on their soil.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:14:38

Whitewavemark2

We provided support as enablers - I.e. fuel vessels and survey.

My question is that if it was as suggested flagged in Russia - then isn’t this piracy?

From what I have seen (assuming it’s correct) this is one of the tankers that managed to avoid the USA embargo on leaving Venezuela.

They have also boarded another alleged Russian Flag tanker in the Caribbean.

This appears to be an escalation directed against Russia.

Rather unsettling to say the least.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:12:11

fancythat

GrannyGravy13

We (UK) provided surveillance planes as support 🤬

I am not feeling well.
I am befuddled.

Which side did we provide support to?

Strange question to ask, in strange times.

USA

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:12:09

We provided support as enablers - I.e. fuel vessels and survey.

My question is that if it was as suggested flagged in Russia - then isn’t this piracy?

ronib Wed 07-Jan-26 16:11:32

We have provided full support to the USA. It would be unthinkable to support Russia and Hezbollah.

fancythat Wed 07-Jan-26 16:08:25

GrannyGravy13

We (UK) provided surveillance planes as support 🤬

I am not feeling well.
I am befuddled.

Which side did we provide support to?

Strange question to ask, in strange times.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:06:28

A lot of fuss over what looks to be a total rust bucket - what on earth is going on?

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:04:19

Yes I saw that and at the same time the USA said they would not stop at using military force in annexing a bit of Denmark.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 07-Jan-26 16:02:09

We (UK) provided surveillance planes as support 🤬

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-Jan-26 15:54:06

Just seen this OP. Not sure what to say!

Smileless2012 Wed 07-Jan-26 15:51:34

Maybe what we're all thinking GG.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 07-Jan-26 15:48:16

The Marinera (ex Bella1) has been boarded and seized by US special forces, despite having a Russian sub and warships as an escort.

Wonder what President Putin will think of his friend in the Whitehouse now?