Britain sends 'hard power' message to Putin after Atlantic showdown

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: AP)

Britain has warned Vladimir Putin it is prepared to get tough on Moscow’s shadow fleet. A Downing Street spokesman has suggested the UK is prepared to play a part in the seizure of more vessels after helping US forces capture the Russian-flagged Marinera tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday.  

Sir Keir Starmer told US President Donald Trump “more could be done” to protect the High North — an area the UK deems includes parts of the North Atlantic — and “deter an increasingly aggressive Russia”. The phone call between the leaders came as two oil tankers, under US sanctions and considered part of Moscow’s shadow fleet, passed through the English Channel towards Russia. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said the UK and its allies must show they are prepared to “exert hard power as well as soft power”.

US forces boarded and seized the Marinera tanker in waters between Iceland and Scotland (Image: OSDPA / SWNS)

Speaking to Times Radio, he said: “It’s an illustration of the changed world that we live in, which we’ve seen in many dimensions this week, where for countries to show leadership in the world that’s changed as much as it has in the past year, we have to be able to exert hard power as well as soft power.”

UK officials told The i Paper his comments show the Government’s “clear commitment” to stopping Russia’s shadow fleet, although a NATO diplomat said the seizure of any more vessels would require American backing.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “While I would never speculate on future operations, we will continue to step up our action against the shadow fleet.

“You have seen that the UK has played a leading role in the sanctions against that shadow fleet – that protects our national security, our economy, it protects global stability.

“We are determined to tackle sanctions evasions and shadow fleet activity that threatens our national security, and we will work with our allies and partners in order to do that.”

Shadow fleet is a term used to describe vessels being used to avoid international sections.

The ships, which are often ageing and with obscure ownership, largely transport oil or gas.

Venezuela and Iran have too been accused of operating shadow fleets, also known as ghost fleets.

Retired US Navy rear admiral and ex-Pentagon deputy director Mike Hewitt told the Express he expects to see a ramping up of action against alleged shadow fleet tankers, with the UK potentially taking on a greater role.

“I think you're going to see a more robust commitment to stopping these sanctioned vessels,” he said.

“By some indications, there's over 300 large tankers that are operating within what they call the shadow fleet, moving oil around.

“If you're going to sanction a country like Russia and hope that has an impact on the war in Ukraine, then the only way to do it is to actually intercept and stop the vessels themselves.”

An ally of Mr Putin ramped up threats following the US-led seizure of the Marinera, suggesting the “piracy” could warrant a nuclear response from Moscow.