Macron’s Caution on Russian Oil Tanker
In the midst of heightened tensions between Europe and Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed caution over an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” involved in circumventing Western sanctions. The vessel, identified as the Benin-flagged imo-9332810/”>Boracay, is currently at anchor near imo-9263198/”>Saint-Nazaire, France.
Investigation into Drone Flights
The imo-9332810/”>Boracay is believed to be linked to mysterious drone flights that disrupted air traffic in Denmark in September. According to The Maritime Executive, the tanker and other ships could have been used either as launch platforms or decoys for these drone operations. French authorities have launched an investigation into the vessel’s activities, citing “serious offences” committed by its crew.
Russia’s Shadow Fleet
The imo-9332810/”>Boracay is part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of ageing tankers with opaque ownership and insurance that are often used to circumvent oil export curbs imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has blacklisted hundreds of these vessels, including the imo-9332810/”>Boracay, which was previously known as imo-9332810/”>Kiwala.
Macron emphasized the importance of European efforts to stop Russia’s “shadow fleet” from aiding Moscow in circumventing Western sanctions. He noted that the collective assessment is that Russia’s shadow fleet contains 600 to 1,000 ships. The French President also stressed the need for caution when dealing with these vessels, citing the seriousness of the offences committed by the imo-9332810/”>Boracay‘s crew.
EU’s Response to Hybrid Warfare
The suspected involvement of the imo-9332810/”>Boracay in drone flights over Danish airports highlights the growing concern about Russia’s “hybrid war” tactics, which aim to disrupt Western countries’ defenses and economies. The incident has prompted EU leaders to step up their response to this threat, with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urging Europe to take a more proactive approach.
The incident has sharpened the focus on chinks in Europe’s defenses, following high-profile air incursions by Moscow in Poland and Estonia. EU leaders are pressing to flesh out details for priority defence projects, including a “drone imo-9299886/”>wall” aimed at countering Russia’s threat. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Europe will respond to this growing challenge.
The imo-9332810/”>Boracay was detained by Estonian authorities earlier this year for sailing without a valid country flag. The vessel left the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20 and sailed through the imo-9281891/”>Baltic Sea and over Denmark before entering the North Sea and transiting west through the Channel. Ship tracking data show that the tanker was being shadowed by a French warship after it rounded France’s north-western tip, before altering course and heading east towards the French coast.
Overall, the incident underscores the growing concern about Russia’s “hybrid war” tactics and the need for Europe to take a more proactive approach in countering these threats.
Original Article: Macron ‘cautious’ over oil tanker suspected of being Russian ‘shadow fleet’ — Thenationalnews