In a dramatic escalation of international tensions, RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled yesterday to intercept a Venezuelan oil tanker crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The move came as the United States plotted a high-risk mission to seize the vessel, drawing Britain into America's controversial campaign against the Latin American state.
Cold War-Esque Standoff in the North Atlantic
The Trump administration is reportedly planning a raid on the tanker, which passed 500 miles off the Irish coast and is now Russian-registered. US officials would reportedly prefer to 'seize it than sink it'. This follows a surgical strike on Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The vessel, known as the Bella 1 and now operating as the Marinera, was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for being part of a 'shadow fleet' transporting illicit Venezuelan oil. The tanker, thought to be empty but capable of carrying up to £37 million worth of oil, has repeatedly changed its flag and name in an effort to evade sanctions.
Having set off from the Caribbean in December, its crew painted a Russian flag on the hull in an apparent appeal to Vladimir Putin for protection. A major showdown now looms in the North Atlantic, as the US aims to intercept the ship – believed to be trading on behalf of the Kremlin – before it reaches the safety of Russian waters.
Military Buildup Points to Impending Raid
The US plans appear to explain a significant and sudden buildup of American military assets at British airbases. At least ten C-17 Globemaster aircraft landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, offloading Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters flown inside them.
Further evidence of preparation came from an amateur photographer, who captured images of what seemed to be troops dangling from a USAF CV-22B Osprey helicopter, call sign KNIFE71, practising winching exercises off the coast of Felixstowe on Monday. This is likely a rehearsal for a potential raid on the Marinera.
The operation also involves significant intelligence gathering. Flight trackers identified a US U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft arriving in the UK, while a Poseidon P-8 intelligence plane joined the mission from a US base in Spain. The RAF deployment included Typhoons, a Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft, and a Voyager refuelling plane.
High-Risk Operation Amid Russian Presence
Any attempt to board the Marinera is fraught with danger. The mission's risks are compounded by challenging sea conditions, the vessel's considerable distance from land, and the reported presence of Russian submarines in the area. Last night, the Marinera was located off the coast of Iceland, with British and US reconnaissance aircraft circling overhead.
The operation could mirror a raid last month, when US Coast Guard personnel abseiled from helicopters onto the tanker The Skipper, which was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The US claims such shadow fleets fund 'foreign terrorist organisations'.
As the situation developed, President Trump boasted of US military prowess at the Republicans' annual retreat, stating: 'The United States has proved once again that we have the most powerful, most lethal, most sophisticated and the most fearsome military on planet Earth.'
The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the operational activity, stating only that the US remains the UK's 'principal defence and security partner'. Meanwhile, Moscow's Foreign Ministry has issued a statement expecting Western nations to respect principles of freedom of navigation, setting the stage for a potential diplomatic crisis.
