France Seizes Shadow Fleet Tanker Near Sicily
France has seized the tanker “Deliver” near Sicily as part of the West’s efforts to crack down on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, June 25.
Macron shared a video showing the operation and stated that the French Navy intercepted the vessel on Tuesday while it was transiting off the coast of Sicily and allegedly violating international maritime law. This move comes just days after the UK carried out a similar operation, describing it as another sign of Europe’s determination to enforce sanctions against Russia.
“We will not allow the shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions and finance Russia’s war effort,” Macron wrote. “Europe is determined.” He emphasized that Europe would continue taking steps to increase the cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
European Efforts to Tighten Enforcement
France‘s seizure of the “Deliver” tanker comes amid broader European efforts to tighten enforcement against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. Earlier this month, lawmakers from France and Germany introduced a joint initiative calling for stricter action against the fleet. The proposal, scheduled for consideration by the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly, urges governments to increase inspections of suspected vessels, detain ships found violating international regulations, and step up diplomatic pressure on countries whose flags the tankers operate under.
The lawmakers argued that the shadow fleet poses not only a sanctions enforcement challenge but also growing security and environmental risks because many of the vessels are old, poorly maintained, and operate with limited transparency. The initiative has received backing from lawmakers representing Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), and the Green Party.
Context: Russia’s Shadow Fleet
Russia has relied on a network of aging tankers, commonly referred to as the “shadow fleet,” to continue exporting oil while circumventing Western sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The shadow fleet represents one vessel in a larger network of ships used to circumvent international sanctions against Russia.
The West has been cracking down on these vessels, and France‘s seizure of the “Deliver” tanker is just the latest example. The move aims to increase the cost of Russia’s war effort and help achieve a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Original Article: France Seizes Shadow Fleet Tanker Near Sicily — Kyivpost