NATO bietet Finnland und Estland „Unterstützung“ wegen Kabel-„Sabotage“ an: Rutte

Thoughts and prayers – NATO

we all know we are shivering in our boots and too scared to do anything about it. So myabe we should just not make any statements anymore next time and just suffer these insults in resigned silence from now on.

I like finland’s style. No questioning or reaching out to russia or anything. They just seize the ship.

Whoever claims responsibility will eventually come forward. Or they won’t. Regardless, you have their ship.

The past few times it has happened when it’s obvious russia did it, other countries typically try to reach out to russia to answer for it. Russia just dismisses them, and the ship is allowed to sail.

Good precedence by finland

AFAIK: It’s an act of piracy under international law (UNCLOS), which means there is universal jurisdiction on it, even in high seas, so any nearby ship can seize the ship.

It’s different when a crime is committed inside a ship sailing in international waters (such as a captain murdering a crew member), only the flagship country has jurisdiction over the prosecution and seizing of the ship. No other country has the right to seize the ship.

However, piracy is one of the few things UNCLOs is clear about regarding all countries having the right to seize and prosecute, even in international waters.

I think the hesitation in enforcing this is because this is the first time in history since UNCLOs is ratified, wherein a state (russia) is actively participating in a mass act of war through destroying civilian infrastructures in international waters, by using a civilian shadow fleet.
That definitely makes it more complicated in terms of do you prosecute the mastermind country (russia), the flagship country (may or may not be russia), or the crew members (may or may not be russians or can be multiple nationalities) etc. That is still not clear and would depend on the evidence they have.

What UNCLOS is clear about though is in a state having the right to seize ships caught in an act of piracy. Now, what happens when the ship refuses to dock to territorial waters from international waters when directed is yet to be tested. It will likely be russia’s next testing of the waters unless NATO sets clear boundaries on what will happen if it happens again.

UNCLOS may need to be amended to be 100% clear on laws regarding civilian ships (especially shadow fleets) that are committing acts of war/terrorism in international waters. Same way international law is trying to keep up with laws surrounding AI and Drones.

Not that russia would care about it, but at least the law will be clear and russia is still an UNCLOS signatory themselves