Why has President Trump seized a Russian oil tanker?
The News Agents
Global
4.1 • 5.4K Ratings
🗓️ 7 January 2026
⏱️ 33 minutes
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Summary
In dramatic scenes in the Atlantic this afternoon, American forces seized an oil tanker, 'the Marinera', flying the Russian flag. The British military was involved - supporting the US operation with air surveillance and a navy ship.
The Kremlin has only said that it has been "following the abnormal situation with alarm" - but the maritime confrontation draws Russia and the US closer to direct conflict.
It comes the day after the US, the UK, France, Germany and other allies reiterated their supported for security guarantees in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. But is the British army in any fit state to police a 2,000km frontline?
Later, why hasn't the government come off Elon Musk's X when his AI software Grok is being used to virtually undress women and children?
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| 0:00.0 | The Newsagents podcast is brought to you by HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity. |
| 0:08.6 | This is a global player original podcast. |
| 0:12.2 | Mr Speaker, it is clear that the Prime Minister either does not have the detail or does not want to give us the detail. |
| 0:20.4 | But this is important. He should be calling an |
| 0:24.8 | urgent meeting of NATO leaders. He should have spoken to President Trump by now. This is important |
| 0:30.1 | because if any such peace deal is breached, we would be in direct conflict with Russia. If the Prime Minister is committing troops, |
| 0:39.8 | he must give more detail on how he intends |
| 0:43.6 | to ensure our armed forces are fully resourced. |
| 0:47.7 | It is a very good question from Kemi Badernock, |
| 0:51.6 | but you can be sure the last thing Kirstama wants is to have to undertake |
| 0:57.0 | new spending commitments, which might result in tax increases or spending cuts for other departments. |
| 1:04.7 | But given what is happening in the rest of the world, surely Britain has to raise its defence |
| 1:09.9 | spending. |
| 1:10.3 | Not least because the Prime Minister returns just yesterday from Paris, from a meeting with |
| 1:16.3 | other European leaders, where he has committed to deploy potentially tens of thousands of |
| 1:23.4 | British troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. |
| 1:27.4 | It's the truth with Donald Trump ripping up the NATO alliance. British troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. |
| 1:27.9 | It's the truth with Donald Trump ripping up the NATO alliance that Britain and Europe's |
| 1:34.1 | foreign policy, defence policy, looks like it's from a different age. |
| 1:39.0 | Welcome to the newsagents. The news agents. |
| 1:46.1 | The News Agents. |
| 1:47.0 | It's John. |
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