Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Denmark is under pressure to board and inspect a Russian tanker stranded in the Baltic Sea, also known as the “NATO lake,” according to the Danish investigative news outlet Danwatch.The vessel, believed to be part of Moscow’s shadow fleet, broke down due to an engine malfunction. It is unknown if the Danish Maritime Authority has carried out an inspection of the vessel, but it reportedly has full agency to do so.
Newsweek has reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark for comment via email outside of business hours.
Russian tanker Ane in January 2023. A Russian oil tanker has been stranded in the Baltic Sea after suffering engine failures and people are calling for Denmark to inspect it.
Russian tanker Ane in January 2023. A Russian oil tanker has been stranded in the Baltic Sea after suffering engine failures and people are calling for Denmark to inspect it.
Lars Klemmer/Associated Press
Why It MattersThe push for Denmark to inspect the Russian tanker in the Baltic Sea is significant because doing so could escalate tensions between not only Moscow and Copenhagen but also other NATO allies.However, some believe the dangers outweigh the desire to remain cautious and are pushing to stop giving Russia the benefit of the doubt.What To KnowThe ship, Jazzhas, was en route from Russia to the North Sea, transporting 50,000 tons of oil, and is now anchored off Skagen, in northern Denmark.The vessel, which reportedly experienced numerous engine problems during its journey between Germany, Finland, Sweden and Denmark, was reportedly heading to Tunisia.The 183-meter (600-foot) Panama-flagged oil tanker has broken down several times in the last two weeks. The ship, also referred to as “Jazz”, is part of a fleet circumventing sanctions on Russian trading.Calls for Copenhagen to “respond to the threat from ships like Jazz” and inspect it have come due to Moscow’s increased activities in the so-called NATO lake.Peter Viggo Jakobsen, a defense analyst from the Royal Danish Defence College, said: “The general threat picture right now is that, if we have any important cables under the water surface, then we need to take precautions. We need to keep an eye on these ships.”In collaboration with the Danish newspaper Dagbladet Information, Danwatch found that, during all its engine stops, the ship was above submarine cables in the Baltic Sea.The ship’s engine problems were initially reported by Andriy Klymenko, the head of the monitoring group Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies, who said that the vessel was “drifting for a couple of hours” on January 12. The ship’s engine problems began on December 29 and happened several more times until January 11.The West has recently seen increased Russian military activity near undersea communication cables, and some NATO members are concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could target the cables and critical infrastructure that are vital to global communication systems.The Jazz is not the only Russian tanker to drop an anchor this week. At least 65 of Moscow’s ships transporting oil stopped off the coasts of China, Singapore, the Baltic Sea and the Far East following President Joe Biden’s new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy exports.What People Are SayingPushing for Denmark to inspect the Russian tanker, Flemming Splidsboel Hansen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, told Danwatch: “It’s about using the tools that are available in the fight against the shadow fleet. See what is there and go to the very edge of what is possible.”In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ben Aris, a Russia reporter, wrote: “For this enforcement of proper insurance for shadow fleet to work—and hence oil price cap—you have to force Russian ship in Danish straight to stop. You can only do that with gunboats. Maritime law allows them free passage w/o any requirements at all. In effect, Denmark doesn’t control its waters. If you use gunboats that is an act of war by Denmark against Russia. So won’t happen. Hence this ‘coalition’ & tough talk about ‘tightening’ sanctions is entirely meaningless as absolutely nothing will change.”In a series of posts on X about Russian activity in the Baltic Sea and attacks on Finland’s infrastructure, Emil Kastehelmi, an OSINT analyst, wrote: “Nothing happens randomly. Before the current events, Russia has used careful consideration in launching a series of attacks against the critical infrastructure of Finland and other NATO countries in the Baltic Sea region. Russia is deliberately seeking to increase hostilities.”The problem with the West is that countries prefer to hesitate, when clear and determined force would be needed. A show of force is the only thing Russia understands. Any display of weakness encourages Russia to continue and strike harder, as has happened throughout the year.”Things can get worse. Both alliances and individual countries must set limits, show strength and set examples of strong countermeasures. Any other approach will encourage escalation and pose serious security and economic risks for the entire Baltic Sea region.”What Happens NextWhether or not Denmark conducts an investigation into the Russian ship’s activities will likely determine the response of other NATO allies in the region.Further, inspection of the ship could lead to an escalation in tensions between Moscow and Copenhagen.
