Swinney backs action against Russia after Scots airports used during tanker operation

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 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".

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast the ship was designated a stateless vessel under international law.

"This ship is part of the shadow fleet that funds Russia's war effort in Ukraine," the minister said.

"As a UK government and as the United Kingdom, our national interest is served by avoiding the illegal fuelling of terrorism, of conflict and of misery, whether in Ukraine, the Middle East or anywhere else.

"So when we were asked by the United States to provide operation assistance, including basing an air surveillance support, we were absolutely willing to step up.

"I think it is right and reasonable we work with our allies to confront the attempt to sanction bust that we are witnessing from the Russians on a regular basis."

The Scottish Greens accused the US government of "piracy at sea" on Wednesday, describing Donald Trump's administration of "increasingly acting like a rogue state".

Former party co-leader Patrick Harvie added on Thursday: "Obviously we support sanctions targeted at the Russian shadow fleet, but nobody seriously believes the Trump administration is motivated by a desire to enforce international law.

"Their seizure of assets is explicitly about self-interest, and is part of a deeply concerning pattern of behaviour."

Both Benbecula and Wick airports are civilian sites operated by the government-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Navy tanker RFA Tideforce and RAF surveillance aircraft supported the US operation.

A second tanker, the Sophia, was also boarded near the Caribbean on Wednesday.

The US said both ships were "either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it".

Torcuil Crichton, Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), said: "This was another shock and awe from President Trump and the United States, but it comes as no surprise because there is a huge fleet of these illegal tankers going between Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

"Criss-crossing the Atlantic funding Iran which in turn funds Russia to bomb and send drones across to civilian populations in Ukraine.

"There is a circle there between these rogue tankers in the Atlantic and the eastern frontline in the Donbas.

"We now have a front line - that is the wild Atlantic to the west of the Western Isles."

The north coast of Scotland has been described by one MP as a front line in the fight against Russia.

That description might feel unlikely - but when the US seized a Russian flagged tanker in the Atlantic, with the assistance of the UK, the battle for Ukraine was indeed brought pretty close to home.

Despite no prior knowledge of the mission - ministers at Holyrood say they heard about it from the media - the Scottish government is broadly supportive of the action.

The root of that support? Ministers' steadfast backing for Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary John Healy said shadow fleets - which the tanker is understood to be part of - are "vital to Putin's ongoing illegal invasion".

It's therefore unsurprising that the government in Edinburgh believes the seizure to be the right course of action.

While ministers may quibble with a lack of communication, no issue is taken with the use of Scottish airbases or airports - that, I'm told, is standard operating procedure.

In fact, as one senior SNP figure suggests, there is a view that the US and UK could go further, cracking down on many more shadow fleet vessels being used to flout sanctions.