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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 6 January 2026

Debate

Venezuela

Contribution

My Lords, the “Bella 1” oil tanker, now labelled the “Marinera”, for which US officials have obtained a seizure warrant for allegedly breaking sanctions, and which they tried to intercept off Venezuela, is now reported to be in the north Atlantic, within striking distance of the US bases in the United Kingdom. The BBC is reporting that if any US military operation were to be launched against this vessel, Washington would be expected to inform us about what they are doing. Can the Minister reassure me that we would not just expect to be informed but that we would be informed? At what stage in the operation would we be informed: in the planning stage, as it was launched or afterwards? Would we have any say on the nature of that operation?

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