French navy boards Russian tanker sailing under false flag in international Mediterranean waters, with President Macron confirming sanctions enforcement.
Macron Announces Boarding Operation
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday, January 22, that France’s navy had conducted a boarding operation on a Russian-flagged tanker that same day. The ship is subject to international sanctions and suspected of sailing under a false flag. After the operation, the vessel was directed to another port.
“The operation was conducted in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, with the support of several of our allies,” Macron stated. “We will not tolerate any violations.” He added that proceedings have been initiated and that France is determined to enforce international sanctions effectively.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked France for the intervention.
Tanker Details and Operation
The tanker, which was intercepted in waters between Africa and Spain, had set sail several days ago from Murmansk. The operation involved French naval forces with support from the United Kingdom. The ship sailed under the name “Grinch” but appears on US and EU sanctions lists under the name “Carl.” French media report it flew the flag of the Comoros.
Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”
The incident involves what is known as Russia’s “shadow fleet” – a group of ships, mainly tankers, which the Russian Federation uses to circumvent international sanctions, particularly those related to oil transport. These vessels often sail under false flags to conceal their actual origin and owners.
Recent NATO Naval Actions
On Wednesday, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced that the Dutch navy had recently escorted suspected Russian ships in the North Sea for the second time. He warned that Russian vessels could be used for intelligence activities, including mapping critical marine infrastructure. “We remain vigilant and ready to react,” Brekelmans stated.
In December, the British navy escorted a Russian submarine in the English Channel, while a month earlier it monitored the Russian research vessel “Jantar,” which was reportedly collecting intelligence and observing underwater cables. At year-end, Great Britain and Norway signed an agreement on protecting underwater infrastructure through joint naval actions in the North Atlantic.
