Macron signals NATO coordination after Russia's Boracay tanker detention

European chiefs of staff are set to meet with NATO representatives in the coming weeks to coordinate joint actions following the detention of the Boracay tanker, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

The tanker, sailing from Russia, has become the focus of heightened tensions between Paris and Moscow.

Speaking about the reasons for the detention, Macron explained that the French Navy acted on suspicion. “We encountered extremely aggressive behaviour towards our frigate and helicopters. This served as the basis for launching an investigation,” he said, according to tf1info.

The French leader accused Russia of conducting “hybrid attacks” in Europe and noted that countries in the region had decided to raise the threshold for their responses.

Boracay is under sanctions from the European Union and the United Kingdom because it is considered part of Russia’s shadow fleet. Macron called for the detention of such vessels as a means to disrupt oil supplies and increase pressure on Russia to return to the negotiating table.

“We want to increase pressure on Russia to convince it to return to the negotiating table,” said, adding that NATO members would develop more specific measures targeting the shadow fleet.

According to Marine Traffic data, the Boracay departed from the Russian port of Primorsk at the end of September, bound for Vadinar in northwest India. The ship passed through the Baltic Sea, rounded Denmark from the north, entered the North Sea, passed through the English Channel, and rounded the northwest coast of France before changing course toward the French coast, where it is currently anchored.

The crew failed to provide information about the ship’s ownership and did not comply with authorities’ orders, prompting an investigation and the charging of the tanker’s captain with disobedience.

Boracay is also connected to Denmark’s investigation into drones appearing in the country’s airspace in September. Russia has denied involvement, calling the drone incident a provocation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the detention as piracy, stating it occurred in international waters and that the ship carried no military cargo. “I do not know how this is related to Russia,” he said. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov warned that Moscow could respond if Macron’s calls to detain Russian oil tankers are carried out, cautioning, “What if you make a mistake and disrupt all oil transportation routes? Are you ready to disrupt the entire oil market?”