United Kingdom Initiates Discussions on Confiscating Russia’s Shadow Fleet Tankers

The United Kingdom and its European allies in the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force are considering confiscating ships belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, regardless of their flag.

This was reported by Bloomberg.

The Combined Joint Expeditionary Force is a group of 10 countries (the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands), united by common commitments to the security of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

British Defence Minister John Healey met with his counterparts from the Baltic and Northern European countries to discuss the possible seizure of shadow fleet oil tankers as part of Europe’s efforts to tighten restrictions against Russia’s war economy.

As the publication noted, the meeting demonstrated the allies’ growing willingness to more actively restrict revenues that finance the war against Ukraine.

“The atmosphere and general understanding was that we need to be more proactive. The message is that countries that provide flags to shadow fleet vessels should know that other states may take action,” Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said after the meeting.

According to Pevkur, further discussions are needed before any decision is made. Some participants remain cautious due to “fears of escalation,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a separate interview.

The meeting was also attended by British Chief of Defence Staff Richard Knighton, who presented options for action, including the possibility of joint operations to seize ships.

If a decision is made to confiscate ships, the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force could draw on the experience of the United States in intercepting tankers transporting goods to and from Venezuela. Some of these ships had ties to Russia.

It is currently unclear to what extent the US will be involved in the UK-led initiative. However, according to one of the publication’s sources, some coordination is likely to take place. The interception of ships linked to Russia has caused concern in Moscow, with Russian officials privately demanding that the US stop such actions.

In January 2026, fourteen European countries issued a joint statement warning Russia that its shadow fleet tankers would no longer be able to operate freely in the Baltic Sea.

The document was signed by Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The statement says that from now on, tankers that change flags, turn off transponders, or do not have the necessary documents will be considered stateless vessels. Such ships can be detained without legal risk, which significantly limits the ability of Russian carriers to circumvent sanctions.