Recently, the French Navy deployed frigates and helicopters to forcibly board the Long Beach Island oil tanker near the French coastline, and took it to Saint-Nazaire in western France, with the charge of transporting Russian exported oil. The Chinese captain and chief officer were detained by the police. Subsequently, the chief officer was released without charge, but the captain is required to appear in court in Brest, France on February 23 next year, and may be sentenced to one year in prison and fined 150,000 euros.
The Long Beach Island was intercepted by the French Navy
Chinese people have been involved in this trouble, which we did not expect. The so-called shadow fleet that transports crude oil for Russia has existed since the outbreak of the Ukraine war. They often depart from a Russian port, load up with crude oil and sail to India. The Long Beach Island, which was seized by the French Navy, is also such a tanker. This oil tanker was discovered by Western drones in the sea near Denmark on September 22 to 24, and it had just departed from the Leningrad Oblast of Russia, carrying 750,000 barrels of crude oil to India.
After India purchased these crude oils, some are supplied to the domestic market, some are refined into gasoline and diesel for export, and others are directly mixed with other crude oils for resale. According to the statement of the US Treasury Secretary Bennett, India has gained over $10 billion from this trade. However, for several years, the West has continuously called for action against the shadow fleet, but neither the United States nor NATO navies have taken real measures to deal with the shadow fleet. For example, certain tankers will depart from St. Petersburg Port, but NATO has not intercepted them on the Atlantic or Indian Ocean routes.
French special forces who seized the Long Beach Island
Russia and India have not provided escort for the shadow fleet. Although the Baltic Fleet is not as severely attacked as the Black Sea Fleet, its combat capability is negligible compared to NATO. Departing from St. Petersburg, passing through the Baltic Sea into the Atlantic, the waterways are narrow and winding. Almost all the coastal countries are NATO members, and if they wanted to cut off this route, it would be easy. However, despite their strong anti-Russian sentiments, these countries have not taken decisive measures against the shadow fleet in recent years. Therefore, it is inevitable that France, far away, has become the first to act openly, intercepting ships and arresting crew members, which must have deep considerations behind it.
Since the end of World War II, French politics has had a distinct feature, striving to pursue leadership in Europe. Although everyone knows that European NATO countries are vassals of the United States, France does not want to accept this fact. Therefore, in many key moments in history, France often makes surprising moves. During the Cold War, France repeatedly conducted military and strategic cooperation with the Soviet Union. In the 1960s, France was the first to recognize the People's Republic of China. In 1966, France angrily left the NATO military organization, unwilling to be commanded by Americans. Even now, French politics maintains relative independence, unlike the European political arena, which is almost completely manipulated by the United States.
The seized oil tanker is fully loaded with oil
In the Ukraine issue, France has always tried to actively perform. However, the French are not trying to actively seek peace, but to actively defeat Russia. After the war broke out, Macron's government spared no effort to provide military aid to Ukraine and even semi-publicly sent special forces to participate in the war in Ukraine. When the Ukrainian army captured Kursk in 2024, the Russians once said that the opponent spoke French. France also provided weapons such as Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. France is not following the U.S. position, but wants to use the opportunity of the war to return to the position of leader in the European political arena.
Indeed, as early as November 2019, Macron accused NATO of being brain-dead. At that time, the President of the United States was Trump in his first term. Macron's statement was essentially criticizing the United States for not being able to play a leadership role anymore, and should be replaced by others. However, under the strong influence of the United States, France has never been able to achieve its goal. After the outbreak of the Ukraine war, France was forced to operate on the political track set by the United States.
French Army Chief of Staff Sir knows there is big trouble
After Trump took office, he tried to take drastic measures to stop the Ukraine war. Vice President Vance even publicly insulted European allies. This gave France a new opportunity to compete for control over the Ukraine war. On March 5, 2025, Macron proposed that France's nuclear deterrent capability could be extended to the whole Europe. His eagerness to displace the United States and try to lead Europe is no longer concealed.
Entering August and September, Trump finally admitted that he could not force Russia to accept his peace conditions, and his policy toward Russia turned hard. Trump specifically proposed that NATO allies should impose sanctions on Russian oil exports. In fact, the United States could easily block Russian oil exports with its navy. But the US military has not taken such actions, obviously hoping to see a certain ally act as the first to speak out. It seems that Macron has taken this as a good opportunity to demonstrate France's political determination and execution ability. Macron said that "30% to 40%" of Russia's military expenses are funded by the income of the shadow fleet, and France must do something. This operation is not specifically targeting Chinese people, but it just happened to catch a Chinese captain. If the Chinese government intends to take diplomatic action, there is hope to rescue the captain.
Macron isn't afraid to be the first to speak out
The real trouble will fall on the French. Russian President Putin immediately stated that this was an act of piracy. Although Russia is now bogged down in the Ukraine battlefield and can't do much to Macron and France at the moment, note that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has clear provisions on piracy. For example, any country can apprehend and prosecute pirates on the high seas, and vessels can defend themselves when attacked by pirates, etc. Since the French Navy has been defined as pirates by Putin, then the Russian military has obtained the permission to attack the French military. General Pierre de Villiers, Chief of the French Army, issued an emergency warning, stating that the French military needs to be prepared for high-intensity warfare "as early as tonight." It seems that Macron has really gotten himself into big trouble this time.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7559227819630084646/
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