Russia Detains US Ally’s Ship in NATO Lake

Russia has detained an oil tanker after it left an Estonian port, as tensions increase between Moscow and the Baltic nation bordering the sea dubbed a “NATO lake.”

Estonia’s foreign ministry said Russia detained the Liberia-flagged Green Admire after it crossed into Russian territorial waters which had been previously agreed upon.

It comes days after Tallinn tried to intercept a vessel suspected of being part of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet.”

Newsweek has contacted the Russian foreign ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

The Baltic Sea has been called the “NATO Lake” following the accession to the alliance of Sweden and Finland.

Baltic nations have sounded the alarm about Russia’s increasing aggression in the region including suspected acts of sabotage. Last week, Estonia accused Russia of violating NATO airspace with a fighter jet when Tallinn tried to intercept a suspected “shadow fleet” vessel in the Baltic Sea.

What To Know

Estonia’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that the oil tanker Green Admire was a Greek-owned vessel sailing under a Liberian flag which had departed from the port of Sillamäe.

Despite the route being agreed between Russia, Estonia, and Finland for its maritime safety, the vessel was detained on Sunday.

Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said that the incident shows that Russia “continues to behave unpredictably,” and NATO allies had been informed. When contacted by Newsweek on Monday, Estonia’s foreign ministry said it had no further information to add.

Estonia said that a Russian military jet violated NATO airspace on May 13 after the Estonian Navy tried to stop the tanker Jaguar, which is thought to belong to Moscow’s shadow fleet which is used to circumvent oil sanctions.

A spokesperson for Estonia’s Defense Forces told Newsweek the vessel had been stripped of its nationality following EU-led sanctions.

He said that Russia was violating international law and airspace “and is causing dangerous incidents in the Baltic Sea. This is unacceptable.”

On April 11, the Estonian Navy detained an oil tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet for the first time.

The vessel Kiwala which was en route to the Russian port of Ust-Luga was detained off the coast between the island of Aegna and the port of Muuga, east of Tallinn. Estonian authorities said the tanker also did not have a flag state and so was not authorized to sail in international waters.

David Goldman, head of trading at Novion Global, told Newsweek Monday Russia’s maritime escalation will be sending alarm bells amongst neighboring countries.

What People Are Saying

Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna: “Today’s incident shows that Russia continues to behave unpredictably…I have also informed our Allies.”

Estonia’s Defense Forces in a statement to Newsweek on May 15 said Russia “is causing dangerous incidents in the Baltic Sea. This is unacceptable.”

David Goldman, Head of Trading at Novion Global to Newsweek: “With the Estonian border sitting just 300km from St Petersburg, Russia’s maritime escalation will be sending alarm bells amongst neighboring countries. It would appear that they are prepared to act with impunity.”

What Happens Next

Following Sunday’s incident, Estonia said it would redirect traffic to and from Sillamäe only through Estonian territorial waters to prevent a repeat.

Meanwhile, Estonia said it had informed NATO allies and tensions are likely to build over vessels carrying Russian oil and natural gas as Moscow seeks to evade sanctions.