India, Jan. 9 -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to President Donald Trump after the UK armed forces provided "enabling support" for the American seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker, stopped in the North Atlantic by the US Coast Guard.

"They (Starmer and Trump) discussed the joint operation to intercept the 'Bella 1' as part of shared efforts to crack down on sanctions busting, recent progress on Ukraine and the US operation in Venezuela," a Downing Street statement said of the Wednesday evening call.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the UK responded to the US request for assistance with its operation by deploying Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance aircraft and Royal Navy support ship 'RFA Tideforce'.

Defence Secretary ...