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The United States has rejected Canada’s proposal to establish a task force to monitor Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, as President Donald Trump’s administration reassesses its stance on multilateral organizations.
Bloomberg, citing sources, reported on this development.
Canada, which holds the G7 presidency this year, is set to host a summit of foreign ministers next week in Charlevoix, Quebec.
According to Bloomberg sources, during negotiations on a joint maritime statement, the U.S. has pushed for stronger language on China while simultaneously softening its stance on Russia.
The term “shadow fleet” refers to aging oil tankers operating outside Western sanctions imposed on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In addition to vetoing Canada’s proposal for a sanctions-monitoring task force, a draft G7 statement seen by Bloomberg suggests that the U.S. advocated for replacing the word “sanctions” in references to Russia’s ability to sustain its war in Ukraine with the term “generate revenue.”
Regarding maritime security, the U.S. insisted on explicitly naming China, particularly highlighting the risks to “lives and livelihoods” posed by its efforts to assert “unlawful maritime claims” and its aerial maneuvers, particularly in the South China Sea.
The G7 communiqué is not final until it is published by consensus, meaning negotiations could still lead to significant changes before or during the summit.
“Washington also opposes references to maritime resilience,” the article states, “as well as efforts to establish a maritime observatory to track border changes—an important issue in global maritime conflicts, including in the South China Sea.”
According to the report, U.S. diplomats have informed their counterparts that this stance is linked to Washington’s reassessment of its position in multilateral organizations, making it unwilling to join new initiatives.
On February 24, the European Union added several dozen more vessels to its sanctions list as part of its latest package of restrictions.
Additionally, the EU Council introduced two new criteria allowing the bloc to impose sanctions on individuals and entities that own or operate Russia’s shadow fleet, as well as those who support or benefit from the Russian military-industrial complex.
Meanwhile, an investigation by Finnish public broadcaster Yle revealed how Russia has moved the operations of its tanker fleet management firms abroad, with Dubai emerging as one of the largest hubs for these front companies.
Read also: The United States is thinking of stopping participation in planning military exercises in Europe
