© Getty Images Limits exist among allies regarding initiatives to amplify restrictions on the Kremlin's wartime economy.
The heads of the two Nordic nations have voiced doubt regarding proposals to impound vessels tied to Russia's “shadow fleet.” Norwegian Premier Jonas Gahr Støre and Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadóttir stated that their governments are not contemplating the seizure of these ships. Concurrently, they are scrutinizing options to enhance inspections of maritime traffic in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, Bloomberg reports.
These declarations surfaced after defense officials from Baltic and Nordic states deliberated stricter actions, potentially including confiscations, during a gathering of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a 10-nation military contingent, at the Munich Security Conference.
“Norway hasn’t discussed seizing anyone’s ships; instead, we’re focused on order, safety, and predictability in maritime transport,” Støre informed reporters in Oslo on Wednesday, alongside Frostadottir. The Icelandic premier corroborated that confiscation isn’t under consideration.
At the JEF meeting in Munich, UK Defense Secretary John Healy, together with the Head of the British Armed Forces, Richard Knighton, presented potential courses of action, encompassing joint operations to seize oil tankers instrumental in funding Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Last week, Norway revealed an indefinite extension of a measure prompting foreign-registered oil tankers within its exclusive economic zone to voluntarily share insurance details. This mechanism was initially introduced temporarily last August. Oslo also backs all European Union sanctions aimed at the “shadow fleet” and emphasizes “close collaboration with other flag and port states regarding challenges and prospective responses.”
“We aim to guarantee the security of our coasts, preventing, for example, unauthorized shipments in international waters. If deemed necessary, we’re prepared to summon vessels for inspection to verify adherence to regulations,” Støre conveyed on Wednesday.
Strategies for confronting the Russian “shadow fleet” are evolving, suggesting a legitimate “legal contest” is unfolding at sea.
But can it be confidently asserted that the solution for overcoming Putin’s shadowy financial network has been discovered?
In the article “The Shadow Fleet is no longer in the shadows, but still escapes punishment. How to win a game of naval combat,” expert Oleg Sarkits assesses the situation.