Spain is coming under criticism for reportedly preparing to allow the refuelling of Russian warships en route to bolstering the bombing campaign against the besieged Syrian city Aleppo.
Warships led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov are expected to take on fuel and supplies at the Spanish port of Ceuta after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar on Wednesday morning, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The report comes after Royal Navy vessels monitored Russian warships as they began to move through the English Channel last week.
The Russian vessels were shadowed by the navy as they passed through the Dover Strait — one of the busiest seaways in the world.
Sir Gerald Howarth, a former British defence minister, told the Telegraph it would be "wholly inappropriate" for a Nato member to refuel the vessels.
Former Royal Navy chief Lord West said: "There are sanctions against Russia and it's an extraordinary thing for a Nato ally to do."
Spain’s foreign ministry told the paper that requests from the Russian navy were considered on a “case by case basis”.
“Russian navy vessels have been making calls in Spanish ports for years,” a spokesman said.
The Spanish government is reportedly reviewing the Russian request.
UK prime minister Theresa May has refused to join the condemnation of their NATO ally for allowing Russian warships to refuel in its waters.
She said attention should be focused on a political transition in the war-torn country.
In the House of Commons on Wednesday, Ms May’s response prompted heckles from the SNP, whose Westminster leader Angus Robertson put pressure on the prime minister to join other political and military leaders in urging Spain to rethink its decision.
Speaking during prime minister’s questions, Mr Robertson said to Ms May: “It’s widely expected that the onslaught on Aleppo will be unleashed by Russian air power, which is currently steaming across the Mediterranean aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov and its battle group. In recent years more than 60 Russian naval vessels have refuelled and resupplied in Spanish ports. Will the Prime Minister join me and EU and NATO allies in unequivocally calling on Spain to refuse the refuelling?”
In response, the Prime Minister said: "Of course, on the high seas they are able to travel as they wish, although, of course, when they went through the English Channel they were accompanied by Royal Navy vessels as they went through. What we have seen, sadly, is that the Russians are already able to unleash attacks on innocent civilians in Syria. What matters is that we put pressure on Russia to do what everybody agrees is the only way that we are going to resolve this issue, which is to ensure that we have a political transition in Syria, and that's where we should focus our attention."
– PA