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- cross-posted to:
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Foreign minister warns of environmental catastrophe in Baltic Sea as he accuses Moscow of using unseaworthy vessels
Russia appears prepared to create “environmental havoc” by sailing unseaworthy oil tankers through the Baltic Sea in breach of all maritime rules, the Swedish foreign minister has said.
Speaking to the Guardian during his first visit to London since Sweden became a Nato member, Tobias Billström called for new rules and enforcement mechanisms to prevent the ageing and uninsured Russian shadow fleet causing an environmental catastrophe. About half of all Russian oil transported by sea passes through the Baltic Sea and Danish waters, often operating under opaque ownership, and using international waters to try to avoid scrutiny.
The fleet generates a huge amount of revenue for Russia’s war machine, bypassing western sanctions that try to block access to insurance if Russia sells the oil above $60 a barrel. In practice as little as 20% of Russian oil is sold below the price cap.
It’s already a hybrid world war and Russia will salami slice until Putin has a new palace in Washington.
Denmark can just confiscate the vessels and just go “oops, pirates that far north, who could’ve known” and act all innocent. That’s the kind of war we’re in right now.
I was moreso responding to the other commenter saying “so what if we start a larger conflict”. I’m not saying to do nothing, but that preventing a nuclear world war has to be a serious consideration in any actions taken by anyone.