European countries discuss possible seizure of tankers from Russia' shadow fleet

UK Defence Secretary John Healey has met with his counterparts from the Baltic and Nordic countries to discuss the possible seizure of oil tankers linked to Russia's shadow fleet.

Source: Bloomberg, citing a source familiar with the matter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Bloomberg's source reported that the Joint Expeditionary Force – a group of 10 countries with shared interests in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea – met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

The meeting underscores a growing willingness among European allies to step up efforts to reduce the revenues that fund Russia's war against Ukraine, Bloomberg said.

"The atmosphere and the understanding was that we need to be more proactive. The message is that the countries who give flags to the shadow fleet vessels need to know that there are measures that can be taken by other countries," Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said in an interview after joining the meeting.

Further discussions are needed before any decision is taken, Pevkur noted.

However, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that some members remain cautious, fearing escalation.

According to sources, Healey was joined at the meeting by Richard Knighton, Chief of the UK Defence Staff, who presented options, including joint seizure operations.

This would allow the Joint Expeditionary Force to build on US interceptions of tankers sailing to and from Venezuela.

The source added that it remains unclear to what extent the United States would be involved in the UK-led efforts, though some coordination is likely.

The detention of vessels linked to Russia has caused concern in Moscow, and Russian officials have privately demanded that the US halt such actions, the source said.

Background:

• On 9 January, the United States seized the tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea amid intensified efforts by Washington to restrict exports of Venezuelan oil.
• On 7 January. US forces took control of two tankers, including the Russian-flagged vessel Bella 1 (Marinera), which they had pursued for more than two weeks.
• At the end of January, a group of 14 European countries issued a public warning to Russian shadow fleet tankers operating in the Baltic and North seas.

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