The Maltese government has been aware about security risks with regard to tankers pertaining to the Russian Shadow Fleet as back as early last year. The government also held several security meetings with regard to potential security actions to take following Israel’s attack on a vessel in Hurd’s Bank and several options were considered including inviting foreign military assets to protect maritime borders.
Malta’s closest security allies are Italy and France with whom Malta extensively discussed these issues. France and Italy have both warned the Maltese government about impending risks about Russian Shadow Fleet vessels travelling through Hurd’s Bank and outside Maltese waters. Malta enjoys monitoring and intelligence resources from foreign nations in its security screening of Hurd’s Bank and foreign vessels passing through our waters or outside the Maltese coast.
The Maltese government has been reluctant to take any actions on the illegal oil trade in Hurd’s Bank despite being aware about it and also warned by foreign officials. Local officials have also been raising concerns. The Prime Ministers remained open to listen and discuss various options but has never taken any action. He held meetings on various foreign officials on the subject.
The Maltese government’s concerns are mainly environmental: the potential risk of an oil-tanker that is damaged and spills oil into waters and unto the Maltese coast. So far, Ukrainian attacks on Russian-linked vessels have not caused environmental damage in the Mediterranean but the risk remains. Other risks however remain especially the rising security risks in our maritime corridors brought by the Russian Shadow Fleet.
Malta is taking a position similar to Greece and Cyprus with regards to illegal Russian oil trading and prefers to uphold its commercial interests instead of joining Europe’s campaign to actively clamp down on Russia’s Shadow Fleet. Despite the Maltese government’s refusal to join Europe’s efforts, Malta is still exposed to the same security risks.
Hurd’s Bank is an area highly active in illegal oil trading including by Russia’s Shadow Fleet.
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