French President Emmanuel Macron announced on October 2 that the heads of the general staff of the “coalition of the willing” will hold a joint meeting to discuss an action plan following the detention of the Benin-flagged oil tanker Boracay off France’s coast. The statement was made during a press conference, with Le Monde reporting Macron’s remarks about coordinating with NATO and the coalition to develop joint measures in the coming weeks.
Macron stated that France took the decision to detain the vessel due to suspicions regarding its activities. The French Navy had seized the Boracay on September 30, citing the crew’s failure to provide proof of the ship’s nationality and non-compliance with orders. An investigation was initiated into the tanker’s alleged transportation of Russian oil in violation of sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the incident as “piracy,” asserting that French actions aim to divert public attention from domestic political challenges.
