USA Forces board Russian Flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic

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

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.

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

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??

News is definitely sketchy

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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

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.

We (UK) provided surveillance planes as support 🤬

Just seen this OP. Not sure what to say!

Maybe what we're all thinking GG.