British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will now permit the UK military to board Russian "shadow fleet" ships in its waters. These vessels export sanctioned crude, providing revenue for Russia's war in Ukraine. The move increases European pressure on Moscow.
These tankers use obscure ownership or insurance to evade sanctions. The goal is to deliver a blow to President Vladimir Putin, who uses the fleet to generate revenue.
The US Southern Command announced on X a "lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations" in the Caribbean. This strike killed four people. The command oversees combatant operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to the US Southern Command, intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. No US military personnel were harmed.
The latest strike is part of the US Southern Command's efforts to apply "total systemic friction on the cartels." Last Friday, the US military carried out a "lethal kinetic strike" on another alleged drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific, leaving one survivor and two people dead.
Since last September, the defense department has conducted more than 45 strikes, resulting in at least 163 deaths. Despite framing the strikes as attacks against "narco-terrorism," the US has provided little evidence that the vessels were transporting drugs. The attacks have been condemned as extrajudicial killings by the UN.
According to a 2020 report by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, 74% of the cocaine reaching the US arrived through the Pacific. Only 8% came from fast boats from the Caribbean.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will now permit the UK military to board Russian "shadow fleet" ships in its waters. These vessels export sanctioned crude, providing revenue for Russia's war in Ukraine. The move increases European pressure on Moscow.
Starmer's office stated Wednesday that interdiction of the Russian shadow ships follows increased support from the Royal Navy. These tankers use obscure ownership or insurance to evade sanctions. The goal is to deliver a blow to President Vladimir Putin, who uses the fleet to generate revenue.
The US Southern Command announced on X a "lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations" in the Caribbean. This strike killed four people. The command oversees combatant operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to the US Southern Command, intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean. The command said the vessel was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. No US military personnel were harmed.
The latest strike is part of the US Southern Command’s efforts to apply “total systemic friction on the cartels.” Last Friday, the US military carried out a “lethal kinetic strike” on another alleged drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific, leaving one survivor and two people dead.
Since last September, the defense department has conducted more than 45 strikes, resulting in at least 163 deaths. Despite framing the strikes as attacks against “narco-terrorism,” the US has provided little evidence that the vessels were transporting drugs. The attacks have been condemned as extrajudicial killings by the UN and other humanitarian organizations.
According to a 2020 report by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, 74% of the cocaine reaching the US arrived through the Pacific. Only 8% came from fast boats from the Caribbean.
With the UK's new policy, the Royal Navy can now actively disrupt a key financial lifeline supporting Russia's military actions.
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The sources also report that the US Southern Command has conducted more than 45 strikes since last September, resulting in at least 163 deaths.