France seized the tanker DF Peak, recognized as part of Russia's shadow fleet, on October 13, 2023. The tanker was heading towards Réunion Island, and French officials stated that the action was taken due to doubts about the tanker’s flag. Moscow described this action as an act of piracy and a violation of international law.
Details of the Seizure of Tanker DF Peak
The tanker DF Peak, previously known as Kaliningrad and sailing under the flag of Benin, is the fifth tanker linked to Russia that has been seized by France in 2024. A spokesperson for the French army, Colonel Xavier Rival, announced at a press conference: "We had doubts about the flag under which this ship was sailing, and for this reason, we conducted an inspection. These doubts remain, and therefore, based on the prosecutor's decision, this ship is currently heading towards Réunion Island for a thorough investigation of the matter."
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Political and Economic Consequences of the Seizure
The seizure of the tanker DF Peak occurs amid ongoing sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions have led to a fleet of old and illegal ships that help Russia continue its oil exports, following a reduction in Moscow's oil revenues. Additionally, the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Russian diesel sales on Monday, while the war in the Middle East has disrupted oil supplies and increased prices.
The Russian embassy in France has stated that it is investigating whether Russian citizens are among the crew of this tanker. Furthermore, the embassy noted that France did not provide any notification regarding the seizure of this tanker to Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a post on social media platform X that French military forces were pursuing and seizing this tanker, and this action took place approximately 450 nautical miles south of Réunion. Macron emphasized: "France is determined to fight against the shadow fleet anywhere in the world."
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