Belgian Minister of Defense Theo Francken said the tanker was escorted to the port of Zeebrugge after being intercepted in Belgium’s exclusive economic zone. The Belgian army intercepts and boards the oil tanker Ethera in the North Sea off Zeebrugge, Belgium, on Sunday. Footage of the operation posted online by Macron showed Belgian forces rappelling down from the aircraft to board the ship. Sanctions aimed at limiting Moscow’s revenues used to pursue its war have shut out many tankers carrying Russian oil from Western insurance and shipping systems. It was revealed last month that two employees of a Russian private security company were aboard another suspected Russian “shadow fleet” tanker seized by France in September last year.

Source: Taipei Times March 02, 2026 17:57 UTC