Key events
18m ago
Leavitt says US controlling Greenland would deter China and Russia in the Arctic
31m ago
Leavitt says crew of seized tanker could face US prosecution
1h ago
Rubio says US on verge of deal to take ‘all the oil stuck in Venezuela’
1h ago
Venezuela interim authorities want oil seized on the Sophia, says Rubio
1h ago
Hegseth says US military power, on display with tanker seizures, ‘will continue’
1h ago
Rubio meeting with Denmark on Greenland issue next week
2h ago
UK confirms support to US seizure of Russian flagged oil tanker
2h ago
Senior Russian lawmakers decries US seizure of Russian-flagged tanker as piracy
3h ago
‘No state has right to use force against ships’ from other jurisdictions, Russia says after US seizure of Russia-flagged tanker
3h ago
‘We will always be there for Nato, even if they won’t be there for us,’ Trump says
4h ago
US military confirms seizure of Russian-flagged tanker
4h ago
Russia’s footage of Marinera purports to show US special forces helicopters near tanker
4h ago
Venezuela-linked Russia-flagged tanker seized in North Atlantic near Iceland – US media report
4h ago
Icelandic coast guard says it is monitoring movements of Marinera
5h ago
Reported US attempt to seize Russian-flagged Marinera – context
5h ago
US attempting to seize Russian-flagged tanker – media reports
5h ago
Danish, Greenlandic ministers seek urgent meeting with US Rubio over Greenland’s future
6h ago
Russia reportedly sends submarine to escort ‘shadow fleet’ tanker being pursued by US
6h ago
Live in Greenland? Share your views on Trump’s comments
6h ago
UK’s Farage says Trump right about need for big Nato base in Greenland – but using force to seize it would be ‘outrageous’
7h ago
Brigitte Bardot’s funeral gets under way in Saint-Tropez
7h ago
Ukraine’s national interests will be protected at Paris talks, Zelenskyy’s chief aide says
7h ago
Ukraine-US talks to continue in Paris, Zelenskyy says
8h ago
Eyes on Marinera oil tanker as Russia deploys naval escort
8h ago
EU reveals weak hand as Trump raids Venezuela and threatens Greenland
8h ago
How a US takeover of Greenland would undermine Nato from within – analysis
8h ago
More than 700 flights from Amsterdam cancelled due to extreme weather
9h ago
European leaders rally behind Greenland as US ramps up threats
9h ago
Morning opening: One step forward, one step back
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Leavitt is asked if there are concerns of increased tensions with Russia because of the tanker seizure, and with China over the Venezuela operation. She says:
“The president has very good, open relationships with both President Putin and President Xi. He has spoken with them numerous times… and I believe those personal relationships are going to continue.
But as for the president and the United States- he’s going to enforce our policy that’s best for the US, and in respect to these ship seizures, that’s enforcing the embargo on all dark-fleet vessels that are illegally transporting oil.”
Updated at 12.38 EST
When questioned on whether Trump is still committed to Nato and the article 5 provision of the alliance’s members coming to each other’s defence – Leavitt repeats Trump’s message on Nato from earlier today that “we will always be there for Nato even if they are not there for us”.
ShareLeavitt says US controlling Greenland would deter China and Russia in the Arctic
A reporter asks Leavitt what the US stands to gain if it were to take control of Greenland given it already has access to military bases there, can station personnel on the territory, and place assets.
Leavitt replies: “More control over the Arctic region and ensuring that China and Russia and our adversaries cannot continue their aggression in this very important and strategic region.”
Updated at 12.27 EST
Leavitt says the US coastguard is “escorting” the Sophia to the US – this is second oil tanker that was seized in the Caribbean.
Asked a slew of questions on Greenland, Leavitt is pressed on why the US has not ruled out using military force.
She says Trump won’t broadcast the US’s foreign policy. “All options are always on the table for President Trump as he examines what’s in the US’s interests…but the president’s first options, always, has been diplomacy,” she claims.
Updated at 12.39 EST
Leavitt says crew of seized tanker could face US prosecutionWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has just spoken for the first time on the US seizures of two Venezuelan oil tankers, in the North Atlantic and the Carribean.
She was asked by a reporter whether the seizure of the Russian-flagged Bella-1/Marinera risked larger conflict with Russia. Moscow has already responded angrily to the US seizure, calling it a violation of international law.
Leavitt did not answer the question about antagonising Russia, instead just providing a summary of the operation. I don’t see any key details we didn’t know.
Leavitt said: “The vessel seized in the North Atlantic… shows the USA is not going to tolerate that [ships breaching sanctions].
She pointed out the vessel was subject to a US order which means its crews could be subject to prosecution too and brought back to the US to face trial. Moscow earlier had urged the US to release the crew.
“This administration is going to fully enforce the sanctions policy.”
Updated at 12.41 EST
Rubio says US on verge of deal to take ‘all the oil stuck in Venezuela’
Shrai Popat
Speaking to reporters, Rubio said that the US is about to execute on a deal to take “all the oil that is stuck in Venezuela”.
“We’re going to sell it in the marketplace, at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting. That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime,” Rubio added.
When pressed by reporters about whether the US is concerned about the interim leader’s loyalty to her deposed predecessor, Rubio remained resolute.
“The bottom line is that there is a process now in place where we have tremendous control and leverage over what those interim authorities are doing and are able to do,” the secretary of state said.
“But obviously this will be a process of transition. In the end, it will be up to the Venezuelan people to transform their country. We are prepared under the right conditions, using the leverage that we have, which includes the fact that they cannot move any oil unless we allow them to move it.”
You can follow our US Politics blog here.
ShareVenezuela interim authorities want oil seized on the Sophia, says Rubio
Rubio also told reporters that Venezuela’s interim leaders had asked for the oil cargo seized on one of the ships to be “part of this deal” – i.e. the current US negotiations around the oil proceeds in Venezuela.
“They want the oil that was seized on one of those ships to be part of the deal. They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they work with the United States.”
Updated at 11.52 EST
Hegseth says US military power, on display with tanker seizures, ‘will continue’US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth also just chimed in behind Rubio – describing the US action in Venezuela as “one of the most historic military operations the world has ever seen”, and referencing the overnight seizures of the two tankers.
He says the US military is the only one powerful enough to do that: “And the world is taking notice of that, certainly Venezuela is taking notice of that, and it continues, because two oil tankers overnight were seized by the United States of America… that leverage will continue.”
“The president when he speaks he means it. He’s not messing around. We are an administration of action to advance our interest and that is on fully display.”
Updated at 11.53 EST
Rubio meeting with Denmark on Greenland issue next weekU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, next to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaks to the media Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is speaking to reporters on Venezuela – he says the US administration will control how oil is dispersed in the country, and they’re exercising such leverage “in a positive way”.
He’s asked on Denmark and Greenland. He declines to answer questions on whether military intervention would be used – “I’m not here to talk about that”.
He says he’s meeting with Denmark representatives next week.
Updated at 11.54 EST
Russia’s foreign ministry also says the US should ensure the swift return of its citizens on board the seized Bella 1/Marinera.
They’ve already declared it a violation of international law with one senior lawmaker calling it “piracy”.
The Russian transport ministry said the Marinera was boarded by the US Navy at approximately 12pm GMT, after which they lost contact with the boat, reports Tass state media.
The vessel had been authorised to sail under the Russian flag on 24 December.
Updated at 11.30 EST
The map below shows the US’s pursuit of the Venezuelan vessel, first known as the Bella-1 and then renamed and reflagged as the Marinera.
The ship had been sanctioned by the US in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for Hezbollah.
The US Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December as it headed for Venezuela. But the ship refused boarding and headed across the Atlantic.
Today, the US has seized the vessel in an operation supported by the UK air force and navy.
Updated at 11.02 EST
We will hear from the White House shortly with press secretary Karoline Leavitt due to hold a press briefing, where she will most likely give further detail on the US seizures of two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, the Bella 1/Marinera and the Sophia.
Updated at 10.56 EST
That MoD statement confirms the UK involvement suspected after a RAF surveillance plane was shown by flight-tracking sites over the area where the Bella 1/Marinera was seized.
The UK has said it provided one of its largest naval supply ships – the RFA Tideforce – to help the US operation. It also confirms that UK military bases were used by US planes and military assets in the operation in the North Atlantic.
A file picture of the RFA Tideforce – the British vessel which supported the US operation Photograph: Ministry of Defence/PAShare
Updated at 10.53 EST
UK confirms support to US seizure of Russian flagged oil tanker
The UK Ministry of Defence has just confirmed the UK has provided “enabling support” to the US during its operation to seize the Bella 1 / Marinera vessel.
Its statement said:
“UK Armed Forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing, to U.S. military assets interdicting the Bella 1 in the UK-Iceland-Greenland gap following a U.S. request for assistance. RFA Tideforce provided support for U.S. forces pursuing and interdicting the Bella 1, while the RAF provided surveillance support from the air.
The UK and U.S. defence and security relationship is the deepest in the world and the UK provided enabling support in full compliance with international law.”
UK defence secretary John Healey hailed the UK armed force’s “skill and professionalism,” while describing the action as “part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting.”
“This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.
The UK will continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy, and global stability – making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
The U.S. is the UK’s closest defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the U.S. is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice.”
The UK MoD added that the ship was “initially flying a false flag,” and then “turned off its transponders while at sea and sought to reflag while being pursued, indicating its nefarious links to global sanctions evasion.”
“Recent assessments show that the Bella 1 has been involved in illegal activity, linked to international terrorism and crime including Hezbollah, and part of the web of rising shadow activity that fuels and finances nefarious activity across the globe,” it said.
“The Russian flagging of the vessel shows their role in this interconnected shadow activity we are seeing across the world, which threatens our national security, harms our economy and undermines global security.”
ShareSenior Russian lawmakers decries US seizure of Russian-flagged tanker as piracy
Meanwhile, a senior Russian lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party, Andrei Klishas, said the US seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday was an act of outright piracy, the TASS state news agency reported, as per Reuters.
Share‘No state has right to use force against ships’ from other jurisdictions, Russia says after US seizure of Russia-flagged tanker
Responding to the seizure of Bella 1/Marinera, the Russian transport ministry has accused the US of breaking the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, saying “no state has the right to use force against ships properly registered in the jurisdictions of other states.”
The tanker had received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag on 24 December, it said in a statement.
Updated at 10.02 EST