NATO and Japan should warn Russia over threat to seize vessels

Albeit belatedly and at insufficient scale, European navies are increasingly seizing Russian tankers that are transporting arms and oil in breach of international sanctions. The United States has also seized at least one Russian tanker that attempted to escape the blockade of Venezuela.

These Russian vessels operate as “shadow tankers,” sailing under shell companies and the flags of third countries. Their seizure represents a proportionate reaction to Russia’s conduct of the bloodiest, largest land war in Europe since 1945.