Benbecula
\nFirst Minister John Swinney has backed action to enforce sanctions against Russia following the US seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
\nThe Marinera, a ship accused of being part of Vladimir Putin\u2019s \u201cshadow fleet\u201d, was intercepted by the US Coast Guard a few hundred miles off the Scottish coast.
\nIt is understood that military aircraft landed at Benbecula Airport in the Western Isles and Wick John O\u2019Groats Airport in the Highlands during the operation, which was supported by the British military.
\nSwinney 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.
\nThe 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.
\nThe Ministry of Defence said the ship was on its way to Russia and it backed the action against \u201csanction busting\u201d activity, adding that the seizure was in compliance with international law.
\nSwinney, speaking to reporters after First Minister\u2019s Questions, reiterated that military action was controlled by the UK government, and that he had not been briefed on the operation.
\nHe said: \u201cIf this is a measure to enforce agreed sanctions that were being circumvented by the use of this tanker, then I support that action.
\n\u201cBecause 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.\u201d
\nBBC Scotland understands that at least three US Air Force planes took off from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and landed at Wick John O\u2019Groats Airport at about 11:00 on Wednesday before leaving at about midday.
\nUS Navy aircraft also flew into Benbecula Airport on Wednesday.
\nSwinney said he had \u201cno information\u201d to suggest the military aircraft that landed at Scottish airports were used in the seizure.
\n\u201cI believe in international collaboration,\u201d the first minister said.
\n\u201cSo 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.\u201d
\nThe first minister highlighted that arrangements for aircraft to land in Wick were put in place last month.
\nSwinney added that he had raised with the UK government \u201cthe 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\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s \u201cshadow fleet\u201d, was intercepted by the US Coast Guard a few hundred miles off the Scottish coast. It is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":524552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-524535","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n