Belgium seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker in North Sea with French assistance

Belgian special forces intercepted a tanker suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet in the North Sea early Sunday, with assistance from French naval forces, authorities said.

The vessel, identified as the Ethera, was intercepted during an overnight operation codenamed "Blue Intruder" and subsequently escorted to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, where it will be seized, according to Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken and Vice Prime Minister Maxime Prévot.

The tanker was sailing under a Guinean flag that authorities determined was "probably false," Francken said at a press conference from Zeebrugge. The Belgian federal prosecutor's office opened a criminal investigation after establishing the vessel's flag irregularity.

"These are serious indications of deception and sanctions evasion," Francken stated, characterizing the findings as significant.

The Ethera has been on the U.S. sanctions blacklist since last year as part of measures against Iran. The vessel is suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet, which authorities said Moscow uses to circumvent international sanctions imposed over its ongoing war against Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed France's participation in the operation. "A blow to the shadow fleet: in the North Sea, our Navy helicopters contributed tonight to the interception by Belgian forces of a tanker under international sanctions," Macron wrote on X.

Prévot thanked Belgian special forces for their "exceptional professionalism and courage" in carrying out the operation. The interception was supervised by several Belgian ministers and military officials.