The chairman of the European Committee in the Bundestag, Anton Hofreiter (Green Party), is calling for the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) to be deployed against Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea, pressuring for a binding resolution from the Bundestag to provide political backing. “The ships can be boarded, ideally by the German Navy,” Hofreiter told the magazine Politico.
Hofreiter simultaneously accused Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) of failing to implement the promised tougher approach against the shadow fleet. The Green politician commented that, “If we are going to be honest, we don’t see anything of this so-called tougher approach,” attributing the hesitation primarily to “fear of political responsibility.”
Specifically, Hofreiter demands that the Ministry of the Interior request assistance from the Bundeswehr if the Federal Police are not sufficiently equipped for such missions. He stated, “If one says that the Federal Police are not well enough equipped for this, then one could request assistance from the Bundeswehr.”
In Hofreiter’s view, a decisive motion from the Bundestag is necessary to pressure the government into action. “A resolution from the Bundestag is needed,” the Green politician insisted. This, he argued, would increase the likelihood “that the government dares to act.”
According to the chairman of the European Committee, many ships belonging to the shadow fleet are already acting as lawbreakers today. “The ships are operating illegally; they are breaking the law,” Hofreiter told Politico. Nevertheless, Germany has remained inactive. While France, Belgium, and other nations have already intercepted ships, Germany “hasn’t boarded a single one in recent months.”
Furthermore, Hofreiter highlighted the security risks in the Baltic Sea. He noted that several shadow fleet tankers carry armed personnel, and Russian warships are also present in the region. He concluded by demanding, “The government must act.”
