Benbecula
First Minister John Swinney has backed action to enforce sanctions against Russia following the US seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
The Marinera, a ship accused of being part of Vladimir Putin’s “shadow fleet”, was intercepted by the US Coast Guard a few hundred miles off the Scottish coast.
It is understood that military aircraft landed at Benbecula Airport in the Western Isles and Wick John O’Groats Airport in the Highlands during the operation, which was supported by the British military.
Swinney said he did not know the details of the seizure, but that he backed action to impose sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
The White House has accused the Marinera of breaking sanctions on Iranian oil. It said the vessel had been trying to evade the US Coast Guard for weeks, and said its capture was authorised by an American court.
The Ministry of Defence said the ship was on its way to Russia and it backed the action against “sanction busting” activity, adding that the seizure was in compliance with international law.
Swinney, speaking to reporters after First Minister’s Questions, reiterated that military action was controlled by the UK government, and that he had not been briefed on the operation.
He said: “If this is a measure to enforce agreed sanctions that were being circumvented by the use of this tanker, then I support that action.
“Because where sanctions are put in place to tackle the unacceptable illegal behaviour of a state like Russia in Ukraine, I think those sanctions should be enforced.”
BBC Scotland understands that at least three US Air Force planes took off from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and landed at Wick John O’Groats Airport at about 11:00 on Wednesday before leaving at about midday.
US Navy aircraft also flew into Benbecula Airport on Wednesday.
Swinney said he had “no information” to suggest the military aircraft that landed at Scottish airports were used in the seizure.
“I believe in international collaboration,” the first minister said.
“So I accept that these arrangements have got to take place for practical purposes, but I stress, I have no knowledge of whether there is a connection between the arrival of those aircraft and the events yesterday.”
The first minister highlighted that arrangements for aircraft to land in Wick were put in place last month.
Swinney added that he had raised with the UK government “the necessity for us to have an understanding and an awareness of issues of this nature that may have an implication and an impact on Scotland”.
