Written question asked by Brian Leishman (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 4 February 2026. It was answered by Al Carns (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Russia: Tankers

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera and the removal of its captain and first officer from UK jurisdiction by United States Coast Guards, what engagement the Government received from the United States prior to that operation; on what basis the removal of those individuals from UK territorial waters was permitted; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of United States Coast Guards to (a) remove and (b) transfer individuals from UK territory.

Answer: Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. This includes engagement with US partners on the nature and purpose of their activity. All UK support to allies for operational purposes considers the legal basis and policy rationale for any proposed activity. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations' military operations.

Secondary information