On Tuesday (17 March 2026), delegates and experts from across the Alliance took part in discussions at NATO Headquarters about Russia's Shadow Fleet.
The Shadow Fleet Symposium, organised in partnership with the delegations of the Netherlands and Portugal, helped enhance understanding about how to constrain Russia's Shadow Fleet. Senior officials, subject-matter experts, and practitioners from Allied capitals shared their experience and best practice.
The discussions included legal and operational updates from Allied Command Operations and an exchange of views with the European External Action Service about future cooperation and how ensure efforts against the fleet were complementary.
Speaking at the event, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska said, "the Shadow Fleet is used by Russia to circumvent international oil sanctions. It finances Putin's war machine and is helping him rebuild his forces. Shadow Fleet vessels are also a danger to the marine environment, to maritime traffic and to the safety at sea in general".
