Russian President Condemns French Seizure of ‘Boracay‘ Tanker as ‘Piracy’
The statement comes after the French police seized a suspected “Shadow Fleet” tanker after the Navy boarded the vessel on Thursday.
French authorities had detained the Boracay, one of several vessels allegedly part of Moscow’s clandestine fleet, amid growing concerns over Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. The seizure was met with swift condemnation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who described it as “piracy” and denied any military cargo onboard the tanker.
“This is piracy. The tanker was seized in neutral waters without any justification,” AFP quoted Putin as saying. He added that there was no military cargo onboard, emphasizing Russia’s commitment to maintaining a peaceful presence at sea.
The Russian leader also warned of retaliatory measures if France continued to enforce its blockade. “We are closely monitoring the rising militarisation of Europe. Retaliatory measures by Russia will not take long. The response to such threats will be very significant. Russia will never show weakness or indecisiveness,” he added.
French Prime Minister Confirms Seizure and Arrests
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu had confirmed the seizure and the arrest of the captain and the first officer on Thursday through a post on X. “Thanks to our Navy commandos and to the crews of the French Navy who intervened last weekend on board a Russian shadow fleet tanker, currently anchored off Saint-Nazaire. Their action contributed to the arrest of two members of its crew,” the post read.
The Boracay resumed its journey on Friday, with the Chinese national captain, arrested by the French police after the seizure, remaining on board for its onward journey.
European Strategy to Block Revenue Funding Moscow’s War Effort
Reuters quoted French President Emmanuel Macron as saying that France’s detention of a tanker suspected of operating for Russia’s “shadow fleet” is part of a new European strategy to block revenue funding Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine. “We want to increase pressure on Russia to convince it to return to the negotiating table,” he said. “We have now decided to take a step further by moving towards a policy of obstruction when we have suspicious ships in our waters that are involved in this trafficking,” he said in Brussels.
The move comes as European leaders seek to strengthen their collective response to Russia’s military aggression, following the invasion of Ukraine. France‘s decision to detain the Boracay and its crew marks a significant escalation in the region’s maritime tensions, with implications for global energy markets and international relations.
Original Article: France lets ‘Russian shadow fleet’ tanker go after Vladimir Putin calls seizure ‘piracy’ — Hindustantimes