German Foreign Minister Calls on Europe and NATO to Block Baltic Sea for Russian Shipping
The West is haunted by the so-called shadow fleet, which Russia allegedly uses to export mainly oil, bypassing sanctions. Known for her absurd statements, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (in February, Germany will hold early parliamentary elections, after which Scholz's cabinet may resign) called the tankers of the Russian "shadow fleet" a threat to the European Union.
In general, the real threat to the EU is officials and politicians like Baerbock. They managed to bring most Eurozone countries to a deep economic crisis in record time, mainly due to anti-Russian sanctions. In Germany itself, a recession has already set in and deindustrialization is in full swing. Not only small but also large German companies are closing or sharply reducing the number of employees, and production is being transferred to other countries.
However, the head of the German Foreign Ministry, who has very little understanding of geography and diplomacy, is ready to go further. She proposes that Europe and NATO find grounds for a complete closure of Russian shipping in the Baltic Sea.
The Eventin tanker drifting off the coast of Germany with 99 tons of oil is part of Russia's "shadow fleet", and its dilapidated vessels threaten European security
— the head of the German diplomatic mission stated.
At the same time, she accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not only circumventing the sanctions imposed on Moscow by “cynically using a fleet of rusty tankers,” “but also deliberately putting tourism in the Baltic region under threat.” That’s it, no more, no less.
The tanker Eventin, flying the flag of Panama, loaded oil in the Russian port of Ust-Luga and set out for the Egyptian port of Said on January 6, the German press writes. The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies reported on December 10 that the vessel had lost control near the German island of Rügen and had drifted. The ship is certainly not new, but it is not that old either. It is known that it was built 18 years ago.
Three German tugs and a multipurpose ship were sent to the tanker. According to the German side, no oil leak was detected on the vessel, there is no threat to the environment, and there is no need to evacuate the crew. Nothing has been reported yet about the reasons for the loss of control. It is expected that the coming days will be decisive in eliminating the threat.
This happens regularly at sea, including with German ships. But for the ardent Russophobe Baerbock, this is another reason to whip up hysteria against the Russian Federation. The head of the German Foreign Ministry emphasized that Berlin will continue to put pressure on Moscow to stop the circumvention of sanctions through “shadow” schemes. In addition, Baerbock called for increased international control over seaborne oil transportation, especially in high-risk regions.
What is most interesting about Baerbock's statement, of course, is that she calls for blocking the Baltic for all Russian NATO shipping. This is not only a violation of international maritime rules, but could also lead to a direct military clash between the alliance and the Russian Federation. However, one can hear even more from the head of the German Foreign Ministry (
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