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According to the Ukrainska Pravda report, the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom are all working together to put political pressure on Panama. They want the government to punish ships that are carrying Russian oil at prices that are higher than what is allowed. Letters signed by Lindsey Whyte, who is in charge of international finance at the British Treasury, John Berrigan, who is in charge of the European Commission’s financial services unit, and Brian Nelson, who is the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, have been sent to the Panamanian government.
A report from Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows that about 40% of the 535 boats in this secret fleet are owned by companies based in the Marshall Islands. The US and its partners are putting pressure on Russia in more ways than one. One of their main goals is to cut down on the number of ships that carry Russian oil. Instead, it wants to make it easier to make sure that the price cap rules are followed, which will make it more expensive for Russia to move oil.
Reports say the letters show how people are trying harder to get around the G7’s price caps on Russian oil. They do this by pointing out the higher risks that come with ships that don’t have Western insurance and other services. Liberia and the Marshall Islands are also under a lot of pressure. Traders are being told that their names should not be linked with ships carrying oil that costs more than the set price.
Importantly, the story makes it clear that the countries being targeted, Liberia and the Marshall Islands, are not directly at risk of sanctions. Instead, they are being asked to follow certain rules, which is a more subtle approach than harsh punishments. This joint effort shows that the whole world is determined to keep an eye on and control the flow of Russian oil, which is in line with larger global plans.
