Stop the War is appalled to hear that a British base, British ‘enabling support’ and British armed forces were used in the illegal seizure of a Russian flagged oil tanker today by US forces, close to British waters. The government has confirmed that the RAF also provided surveillance support from the air.
The empty tanker was apparently en route to Russia.
This act of piracy follows the US military kidnapping of the Venezuelan President and his wife, the claim by US President Trump that the US now is in charge of Venezuela, and the announcement that the US is taking billions of dollars worth of Venezuelan oil.
The military seizure of an empty Russian oil tanker in international waters is potentially an act of war. It is an utter disgrace and beyond irresponsible for Britain to collude in this episode and almost unbelievable that the Defence Secretary has said the government will ‘continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity.’
It is clear to the world that US actions are hurtling us towards wider conflict and potential catastrophe. We demand that the British government immediately stops all involvement with the illegal, provocative and more and more extreme actions of President Trump, and publicly condemns Trump’s gangsterism.
The anti-war movement will be mobilising across the country in the coming days to insist on de-escalation and worldwide condemnation of Trump’s actions.