The United Arab Emirates has taken a stand against Russia's attempts to evade Western sanctions through a 'shadow fleet' by denying entry to any ship from the African nation of Eswatini.
Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author, highlighted that Russia has been using a 'shadow fleet' to smuggle oil and bypass economic sanctions as part of Putin's strategy to safeguard the Russian economy from sanctions since 2014.
The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has issued a directive prohibiting any services to ships from Eswatini, citing concerns about maritime security due to the vessels' aging nature, lack of safety standards, and insurance.
Notably, Eswatini-flagged ships have emerged this year, with reports indicating unclear ownership of many vessels that have been transporting oil from Russia and Iran.
The United States has previously sanctioned three Eswatini ships for supporting the Syrian regime and exporting grain from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
The Atlantic Council has raised alarms about the Russian 'dark fleet,' estimating it to consist of 1,400 ships operating in a 'gray zone,' making it challenging for countries to take action against them.
The concern over the poor condition of these vessels, lack of insurance, and the burden placed on coastal nations to assist distressed illegal ships without recourse has been highlighted by experts.
Despite the risks posed by the shadow fleet, the difficulty in holding these vessels accountable due to their non-military nature presents a significant challenge for coastal states.
