Russia's Shadow Fleet Stung by UAE, Eswatini Sanctions

Former Colombian President Ivan Duque urges tough sanctions on Russia for the Ukraine invasion, while the United Arab Emirates has targeted Russia's "shadow fleet" by denying entry to ships from Eswatini, a country aiding Russia's sanctions evasion efforts.

Former Colombian President Ivan Duque has emphasized the necessity of stringent sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, highlighting its deterrent effect on potential aggressors and its role in reducing Russia's influence in South America. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Duque underscored the importance of severe punishment for Russia's actions.

Russia's Shadow Fleet Stung by UAE, Eswatini Sanctions

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a strong stance against Russia's attempts to circumvent Western sanctions through its "shadow fleet," a network of covert ships used to conceal the origin of smuggled oil. The UAE has prohibited entry to its ports for any vessel originating from Eswatini, a landlocked country collaborating with Russia to transport oil and evade sanctions.

According to Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin's Playbook," Russia's use of a shadow fleet to smuggle oil and conceal its origin is part of Putin's strategy for sanction-proofing the Russian economy. She noted that Moscow anticipated US sanctions before the Ukraine invasion and has been implementing measures to circumvent sanctions since 2014.

Russia's Shadow Fleet Stung by UAE, Eswatini Sanctions

The vessels comprising this shadow fleet are often obsolete, lack proper safety standards, and operate without insurance, posing a threat to maritime security, Koffler added. A list of restricted flag state vessels published by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure identified Eswatini as the latest country whose ships are banned from receiving services from UAE maritime agents or companies.

The notice from the ministry emphasized the ban on vessels registered under the flag state of Eswatini, unless classified by a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) or the Emirates Classification Society. Eswatini-flagged ships have emerged this year, with 26 such vessels now sailing the seas, despite none being registered under the flag in 2023.

Russia's Shadow Fleet Stung by UAE, Eswatini Sanctions

Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has collaborated with Russia to transport oil as part of its sanctions-dodging efforts. Bloomberg's analysis of ship-tracking data revealed that 16 out of 18 Eswatini-flagged ships have "unclear" ownership, with several tankers transporting oil from Russia and Iran.

The United States has sanctioned three Eswatini ships for supporting the Syrian regime and aiding grain exports from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. However, a spokesman for the Eswatini ship registry claimed that the country delisted two of the ships for breaching compliance guidelines, but two continued to fly the Eswatini flag.

Russia's Shadow Fleet Stung by UAE, Eswatini Sanctions

The Atlantic Council think tank's report on the growing Russian "dark fleet" estimated its size at 1,400 ships, operating in a "gray zone" that complicates enforcement actions. The think tank expressed concern over the poor condition of these ships, which operate illegally and avoid detection by officials.

Experts指出，暗影舰队的船只通常比较陈旧，缺乏适当的安全标准，也没有保险，因此对海事安全构成了威胁。它们可能会在任何时候制造危险的情况。

大西洋理事会高级研究员伊丽莎白·布劳写道：“对沿海国家的潜在伤害是切实的，但由于侵略不涉及军事行动，这意味着即使一个国家能够证明这艘船只运送的是俄罗斯货物，它也几乎不可能为影子船只造成的伤害报仇。”

专家认为，暗影舰队给沿海国家带来了负担，根据搜救公约，沿海国家有义务投入时间和资源来帮助陷入困境的非法船只，但没有追索权。