Lithuanian abroad Minister Kęstutis Budrys took part in the Council of the Baltic Sea States (RPMB). Together with the ministers of 9 another countries of the region, Budrys discussed sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet and signed a joint memorandum to strengthen the resilience of critical offshore infrastructure in the Baltic Sea at government level.
The discussion focused on an incidental that occurred a fewer days ago inEstonia's economical region erstwhile a sanctioned Jaguar tanker refused to comply with legitimate demands and a Russian military aircraft violated Estonian airspace. "Russia uses its fleet of shadows against us. An incidental involving a sanctioned Jaguar tanker, during which Russia utilized its air force to defend it, showed this very clearly," noted Budrys. According to the Minister of the Baltic Sea State, they realize well how the shadow fleet works, but tighteningsanctions are not a adequate answer. It is essential to adopt a common code of conduct that would supply for far more serious remedies.
According to the head of Lithuanian diplomacy, further tightening of sanctions is essential for another shadow fleet ships, as present individual ships are treated differently by the US, the UK and the EU. According to the minister, this is besides evidenced by the case of Jaguar, who was only sanctioned by the United Kingdom. It is so essential that specified vessels be subject to sanctions by all jurisdictions together. Following Lithuania's proposal, the 17th package of EU sanctions imposed restrictions on another 200 ships of the Russian shadow fleet.
Another crucial step, according to Budrys, is to increase NATO's military presence in the Baltic Sea, to extend the mandate of the Baltic Sentry mission and to revise national consequence rules, including the Navy, besides in force during peacetime.
In a memorandum signed by the abroad Ministers of the Republic of Poland, 10 governments of the region agree to cooperate and take steps to increase the protection and resilience of underwater critical infrastructure. The Memorandum besides includes provisions on the protection of information, possible common sources of backing and coordination of actions.
Source: Delfi.lt
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