EU expands naval mission to intercept Russian shadow tankers in Indian Ocean

The European Union has authorized its counter-piracy naval mission, Operation Atalanta, to stop and board Russian shadow fleet tankers suspected of operating under false flags in the western Indian Ocean. The decision, announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, extends powers already held by the EU's Mediterranean mission, Operation Irini. Kallas made the announcement alongside news that Irini forces had boarded the sanctioned oil tanker MV South Star on July 20. The move widens the EU's geographic reach against the shadow fleet, a network of tankers with opaque ownership used by Moscow to sell oil above the Western-imposed price cap. The EU has already sanctioned over 600 vessels. The legal basis for boardings is Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits inspection of vessels suspected of being stateless or flying false flags. The operational plan and rules of engagement have not been made public. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced such interceptions as 'piracy,' highlighting rising tensions between Brussels and Moscow over maritime enforcement.