The US Navy Just Seized a Russian Tanker

Peter Zeihan 3 min

The US seizure of a Russian tanker destroys the legal cover for the shadow fleet, causing its collapse and disrupting global oil supplies. We are at the beginning of a very dramatic period in human history as the global trade system sees one of its primary methods of keeping running energy starting to break down.

Key points

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    The United States Navy captured a tanker off the coast of Iceland.

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    The ship was part of a shadow fleet servicing Russia, Venezuela, and Iran.

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    The vessel slipped through a US quarantine cordon around Venezuela.

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    The ship changed its loyalty to Russia while sailing and painted a Russian flag.

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    Russia claimed ownership of the vessel and asked the White House not to take it.

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    The US took the ship despite Russia's direct request to leave it alone.

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    The seizure gives other nations full legal cover to seize shadow fleet ships.

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    This action will lead to the collapse of the shadow fleet within weeks or months.

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    The disruption will affect more than 45 million barrels of daily crude oil supply.

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