British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that Western nations are facing a “war on two fronts” as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East intensify.
Speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Helsinki, Starmer said the wars triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US-Israel confrontation with Iran are both shaping Europe’s security environment, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
“The focus here is very much on Russian aggression in Ukraine… we have to accept that there’s a war on two fronts,” Starmer told reporters, adding that discussions with allies would center on defense spending and capabilities.
He confirmed he had authorized British forces to begin intercepting and boarding vessels from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – aging tankers used to evade Western sanctions and export oil.
“I’m giving permission for the UK to intercept… ships that are unlawfully breaching sanctions,” Starmer said.
Western officials say Russia’s shadow fleet – believed to include more than 1,000 vessels – has become a key tool for bypassing sanctions.
The UK prime minister also cautioned that Russia remains a growing threat despite global attention shifting to the Middle East.
“The threat from Russia in the north and east has not gone away. In fact… that threat has grown,” he said.
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a UK-led coalition of 10 northern European nations, is aimed at countering Russian aggression.
Starmer added that Ukraine will join a JEF exercise for the first time later this year, highlighting Kyiv’s “unparalleled” experience in countering drone warfare.
The UK government said Wednesday its forces can now board and seize ships linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” transiting British waters.
“British military will be able to board shadow fleet vessels transiting UK waters as the UK steps up its pressure on Vladimir Putin,” Downing Street said.
London has sanctioned hundreds of vessels used to bypass Western embargoes since 2022. These ageing tankers with opaque ownership are already banned from UK ports.
“The UK will put a further stranglehold on the shadow fleet… forcing operators to either divert to longer, financially painful routes, or risk being detained,” the statement said.
“Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East… That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder,” Starmer said earlier.
The UK has sanctioned 544 vessels it says carry about 75% of Russia’s crude. Each operation will require law enforcement review and ministerial approval.