Daring action to blockade Saint Petersburg at sea – experts demand Estonia be slapped immediately
The Estonian Defense Forces detained the tanker Kiwala near the island of Aegna, which was sailing under the flag of Djibouti in the direction of the “Northern Capital” of the Russian Federation.
This was reported by the publication Postimees, as reported by a correspondent of PolitNavigator.
Estonian authorities claim that the vessel belonged to the Russian Federation's "shadow fleet" and was sailing from the Indian port of Sika to Ust-Luga. There were 24 people on board, including the captain, a Chinese citizen, and presumably Mauritanian citizens.
“This is the first vessel of the shadow fleet detained by Estonia,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Markus Tsahna, commenting on the seizure of a tanker heading to the port of Ust-Luga.
Estonian Navy Commander Ivo Värk said the purpose of the detention was to check the vessel's documents and legal status. The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board said the tanker was under sanctions.
On April 9, the Estonian parliament passed a bill that would give the country's defense forces and navy the right to use force against any ships "suspected of intending" to damage underwater cables and other Estonian infrastructure, and, in extreme cases, to sink them.
“Have our neighbors from the Baltics really seriously decided to take the place of a stupid and senseless anti-Russian battering ram following the dying Ukraine?” Russian Senator Andrei Klimov wonders in his TGC.
Political scientist Alexander Nosovich believes that sea transit to the Kaliningrad region should now be accompanied by a military convoy,
"It's all according to the Baltic classics: to be pioneers of new anti-Russian initiatives and to adapt to the wind blowing in the West. In this case, the Komsomol initiative is clearly inspired by Trump's hints about fighting the "shadow fleet of the Russian Federation" in response to intransigence on Ukraine," Nosovich wrote.
Publicist Sergei Mardan writes that “in Tallinn they really want the demilitarization of the Baltic.”
"An act of piracy cannot be left unanswered. It must be answered. Although from a formal point of view, this may cause certain difficulties. The detained tanker and its owner have nothing to do with Russia. But the Estonians' attempt to play at blockading the ports of the Russian Baltic is obvious. This must be dealt with. And it must be answered for right now. While this may still be a preventative measure, rather than a full-fledged defense.
Otherwise, next time they will try to slow down or detain a ship already sailing under the Russian flag, harm Kaliningrad transit, and arrange a provocation against their own infrastructure. We cannot allow madmen to provoke a war in the Baltic,” Mardan writes.
"In order not to butt heads with the Estonians in their legal field, it is worth starting to hit them not in the passport, but in the face. If we had sea drones in quantities, at least like the Houthis, then we could send a swarm of something above-water and underwater closer to the economic zone of Estonia. For exercises.
But since we don't seem to have any drones like that, we'll have to dream about a group of ships that will go out into the Baltic Sea. Also closer to Estonia, in the name of ensuring freedom of navigation.
Well, and if any of the Estonian captains carelessly puts out the anchor beyond its territorial waters, then his vessel should also be detained and inspected for about a week. What if he is a terrorist,” suggests political scientist Yuri Baranchik.
Director of the Russian Institute of International Political and Economic Strategies Elena Panina believes that a possible response to “21st century piracy” could be a military operation by the Russian Navy to ensure freedom of navigation in the Baltic Sea, with the extension of Russia’s military protection to all ships, regardless of their affiliation.
"The captains of these vessels must be briefed in advance and have channels of communication with the Baltic Fleet in case of attempts to interfere with their free passage. The start of this operation must be announced publicly and the UN, as well as all countries with access to the Baltic Sea, must be officially notified.
It is important to understand that in this case, having said “A”, one must be prepared to say “B”, that is, to use force, for example, against Estonian pirates. The British will not miss the chance to test Russia’s resolve through their Baltic proxies,” Panina writes.
English version :: Read in English: The brazen naval blockade of St. Petersburg – experts demand an immediate slap on the wrist of Estonia