Scottish leader says he was not informed of US using Scottish airport to seize oil tanker

LONDON

The first minister of Scotland on Thursday said that his government was not informed of the US operation to use a Scottish airport in Wednesday's seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.

Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, John Swinney said that he agreed with the enforcement of sanctions, however, he added that his government must be "fully sighted" on interventions around Scotland’s waters, according to a report by Scottish daily The National.

His remarks came a day after the US seized in the North Atlantic a Russian-flagged vessel, which the White House said was transporting oil subject to US sanctions.

The British Defense Ministry said that the UK military supported the operation to seize the tanker, the Marinera, with air surveillance and a navy ship.

On Wednesday, US special operations aircraft landed at a small airport in the Highlands, Scotland, before flying north during the operation, which the Scottish first minister said he was not informed of, according to the UK media.

"I think it’s important that there is the very closest of a dialogue about issues of a geopolitical nature about issues that could have an impact on the security of Scotland," said Swinney.

Following the operation, a Stop the War Scotland spokesperson said that the airport had been used in a "grave violation of international law."

"The First Minister’s initial response to the Trump administration’s attack on Venezuelan sovereignty, to use the President’s own words, was feeble," said the spokesperson.