The French Navy seized and inspected the tanker DF Peak on October 12, 2023 (Mehr 20, 1402) at a distance of over 450 nautical miles from Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. This action was taken following suspicions of the use of a false flag and involvement in illegal fuel transfer activities.
Russia's criticism of the tanker seizure
The Russian embassy in France criticized this action, describing it as piracy and stated that French officials had not previously informed the Moscow embassy about the seizure of the tanker. Russian diplomats are investigating the possibility of the presence of citizens from their country among the crew of the ship. The Russian embassy also called the actions of the French Navy a blatant violation of international law.
Details of the seizure and investigations
According to the information provided, after the French forces boarded the tanker, the ship's documents were examined, and doubts about the legality of its flag were confirmed. The DF Peak tanker, which was sailing under the Benin flag, was then escorted by the French Navy to a mooring location near Réunion Island. French officials stated that this action was based on Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and within the framework of examining the ship's nationality.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has stated that France is determined to confront what he calls Russia's "shadow fleet" around the world. These remarks reflect France's firm approach in dealing with suspicious and illegal maritime activities.
The seizure of the DF Peak tanker is likely to escalate tensions between France and Russia, especially in maritime and international law contexts. Russian officials have reacted strongly to this action, describing it as a violation of their sovereignty. This issue could have significant implications for the diplomatic relations between the two countries and also for maritime security in the region.
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