Airfields and Alliances: Swinney’s Stance After Russian Tanker Operation Near Scotland

There is a peculiar intersection in global affairs where remote airfields and distant seas suddenly find themselves woven into debates of war, law and international cooperation. This week in Scotland, that intersection emerged in the wake of the seizure of a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, an operation that saw US military aircraft land at Scottish airports — including Benbecula and Wick John O’Groats — as part of a mission widely understood to enforce sanctions against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In response, First Minister John Swinney signalled his support for action to uphold sanctions, while also stressing the need for clearer communication between the UK and Scottish governments about such sensitive operations.

The seized vessel, known as the Marinera, was intercepted several hundred miles off the Scottish coast after allegedly attempting to bypass international sanctions through a “shadow fleet” of tankers said to help fund Russia’s war effort. The US Coast Guard led the operation, with support from British surveillance aircraft and a Royal Navy ship. As part of the manoeuvre, US Air Force planes touched down at Scottish civilian airports — facilities owned and operated by the Scottish Government — before continuing northward during the mission.

At a press briefing in Edinburgh, Mr Swinney made clear that the Scottish Government was not informed in advance about the operation or the use of local airports, highlighting a surprise at learning of the development through media reports. He reiterated, however, that he backed measures aimed at enforcing agreed sanctions against Russia, arguing that complying with sanctions regimes “has to be enforced” when they are in place to counter breaches tied to conflict and violations of international law. His stance aligns with wider UK and allied positions on sanction enforcement while raising concerns about communication between governments on matters that touch Scottish infrastructure.

Swinney also emphasised that such security and defence operations fall under reserved UK government functions, not devolved Scottish powers, and said it was important for Edinburgh to be “fully sighted on what measures and interventions are happening in and around our waters.” At the same time, he downplayed speculation about direct Scottish involvement, noting that flight arrangements — such as landings at Wick Airport — had been planned well in advance and did not necessarily relate to the tanker action.

Not everyone has welcomed the incident or the broader geopolitical implications. Some politicians and campaign groups raised questions about the use of civilian Scottish airports in military‑linked operations without prior notice, calling for clearer assurances that national infrastructure will not be unwittingly drawn into foreign policy actions. Others, echoing the UK government’s defence officials, argued that cooperation with allies such as the United States and enforcement of sanctions serves the national interest and contributes to broader efforts to uphold international norms.

The episode also comes at a time of heightened attention on Russia’s extensive “shadow fleet” of vessels, which have repeatedly been highlighted by Western governments for their roles in evading sanctions imposed after the full‑scale invasion of Ukraine. UK ministers have described actions against such vessels as part of a collective push to limit funding sources for the conflict, even as legal and diplomatic debates continue about how best to balance enforcement, sovereignty and international law.

For Swinney, supporting sanction enforcement does not diminish his call for dialogue and transparency between the Scottish and UK governments — a reflection of the nuanced balance that devolved administrations must strike when global geopolitics touches local soil, literally and metaphorically.

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Sources Swinney backs action against Russia after Scots airports used during tanker operation — AOL / PA Media via BBC. Scottish leader says he was not informed of US using Scottish airport to seize oil tanker — Anadolu Agency report. Scots airport may have been used as 'staging post' by US military... — Yahoo News UK.