According to RT, on June 8, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas told reporters before an informal EU defense meeting: "The EU will discuss the issue of the 'shadow fleet.' Of course, the ultimate goal is to restrict Russia's ability to raise funds for its military operations."
As revealed by Kallas, EU member states have authorized EU naval vessels conducting Operation Irini in the Mediterranean to seize foreign oil tankers designated by the EU as part of the so-called "shadow fleet." Kallas stated: "Our Operation Irini has adjusted its operational rules, and we will now begin implementing ship seizures. The approach draws on existing best practices from EU member states."
Operation Irini was deployed in the Mediterranean in 2020, primarily tasked with inspecting passing merchant vessels to prevent illicit weapons shipments into Libya.
This incident marks a comprehensive upgrade of the EU’s sanctions tools against Russia—from traditional "economic blockade" to direct "maritime interception," representing a pivotal milestone in the extension of the economic warfare front of the Ukraine-Russia conflict into global major shipping lanes.
Since its launch in 2020, Operation Irini’s core mission had been enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya. Authorizing this operation to board and seize Russian oil tankers in the Mediterranean constitutes the first functional expansion of the mission. This signifies that the EU Navy is transforming military forces originally intended for regional security and peacekeeping into direct economic enforcement instruments targeting Russia’s energy exports.
Western nations believe that the "shadow fleet," responsible for about 60% to 70% of Russia’s maritime crude oil exports, serves as its "cash lifeline" sustaining the war effort. By seizing ships at sea, the EU aims to fundamentally undermine Russia’s financial resources, compelling it to make concessions on the battlefield. This strategy—cutting off the root rather than just cooling the surface—indicates that Western pressure beyond the battlefield has reached its peak.
This move has sparked significant controversy regarding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas. EU countries such as France emphasize that their actions comply with international law and established best practices; meanwhile, Russia has reacted furiously, accusing the conduct of being illegal "international piracy" and asserting protection of its nationals’ rights. This reflects how great powers are increasingly engaging in maritime contests under the guise of legality, posing serious challenges to the stability of global deep-sea shipping.
Faced with Western maritime encirclement, Russia has not limited itself to verbal protests but has taken concrete countermeasures. Just eleven days before Macron announced the interception operation (May 20), Russia swiftly passed legislation authorizing the president to deploy armed forces to protect sanctioned commercial vessels overseas facing legal action. This clash between "militarization of law enforcement" and "legalization of military action" foreshadows that friction between Russia and Europe at sea is likely to increase significantly in the future, even carrying risks of accidental escalation.
In summary, Kallas’s statement is not merely a continuation following the EU’s 20th round of sanctions, but also signals that under the backdrop of great power competition, global commons are increasingly being eroded by growing security and militarization shadows. Conflicts within the "gray zone" of maritime trade have become the new normal.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867424145033216/
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