British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled new sanctions aimed at Russia’s so-called shadow fleet ahead of a military summit in Norway on Friday.
The government indicated that it has greenlit sanctions against around 100 oil tankers, which have carried over $24 billion in cargo since early last year.
Previously, the UK has already focused on numerous “shadow fleet” vessels suspected of dodging sanctions imposed by Western nations on oil exports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Additionally, the UK claims these vessels are causing damage to critical submarine cables in Europe.
“We cannot underestimate the threat to our national security posed by Russia,” Starmer stated, stressing that further actions are necessary to address Russian President Vladimir Putin’s activities.
“That’s why we are doing everything within our power to dismantle his Shadow Fleet operations, deprive him of oil revenues for his military, and safeguard the undersea infrastructure that’s essential for our daily lives.”
Starmer was set to participate in a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) meeting in Oslo on Friday.
According to the UK government, this UK-led military alliance will announce additional support measures for the Ukrainian military, including extensive training initiatives and efforts to combat disinformation.
Moreover, the UK and Norway plan to finalize a new memorandum on “space domain recognition,” which encompasses tracking and sharing intelligence related to satellites, space debris, and other objects in Earth’s orbit.
The JEF comprises Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK.
