Recently in the Bay of Biscay, The French Navy Special Forces raided a tanker claiming it was a member of the Russian Shadow Fleet.
And during the detention, France even threatened to sentence the crew.
But soon the giant ship loaded with 750,000 barrels of crude oil was released by the authorities. President Macron knew that he "raised the white flag".
Why did Macron suddenly choose to give in?
Raid: French military uses special forces to seize oil tankers
On October 1, 2025, the French Navy was in the waters near the port of Saint-Nazaire. Intercepted and boarded an oil tanker called the Borakai.
The tanker set sail from the port of Primorsk near St. Petersburg, Russia, carrying about 750,000 barrels of crude oil, for a total of about 110,000 tons, and plans to sail for the port of Wadinar in India.
The tanker had stopped in Danish waters on the way, and then arrived near Saint-Nazaire, France, when the French Navy stormed the ship, arresting two crew members, one of whom claimed to be the captain and was Chinese.
France said They believe the tanker belongs to Russia’s “shadow fleet” and is suspected of circumventing EU sanctions on Russian oil exports.
the French prosecutor on the grounds of "refusal to cooperate with the investigation" and "fake information",Judicial proceedings were launched.
At that time, the high level of France was quite tough.
Macron also stated publicly at the EU summit: To combat the Russian “shadow fleet” in order to cut off the chain of war funding.
French Army Chief of Staff General Pierre Scheer even said that The army "should be prepared for high-intensity war".
Everything seems to be on the rope.
Putin's voice: Piracy, consequences at your own risk
According to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the French Navy's interception of tankers during the annual meeting of the Vardy International Debate Club in Sochi.
His words are not ambiguous.
Putin said "There is no basis for intercepting oil tankers on the high seas, This is naked piracy. "
At the same time, the French side may search on the ship for military supplies, drones, etc., but nothing was found, the tanker hanging a third-country flag, operated by international crew, he himself can not judge how much the tanker has ties to Russia.
Putin also stressed that “The further seizure of tankers carrying Russian oil could trigger conflict.”
Speaking of this, France naturally understood what he meant: once the tanker is not allowed, it is equal to stepping on the line.
This vague tactic is Putin’s usual diplomatic tool.
It didn't positively admit that the ship belonged to Russia, avoided the responsibility of illegal transportation, and made it clear that the other party retreated despite difficulties.
France quickly understood.
Sudden Turn: France Quietly Releases Ships and People
Late at night, the French side didn't say anything and held a press conference to explain why.
The detained tanker Bolakai set sail again and headed towards the Suez Canal. The crew members who had been taken away before also returned to the ship.
Earlier, French prosecutors also vowed to prosecute the captain, accusations of "rejection to cooperate with the investigation" and "navigation nationality unknown", once the offence is established, a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 euros, now ends unconditionally.
In just 48 hours, France "tough" exit.
From dispatching special forces to returning them intact, the rapid change of face has aroused doubts from the outside world.
An analysis suggests, Putin’s tough statements have put a lot of pressure on France.
Some say that this is not just as simple as Russian pressure, but that there is another key role behind it. India is。
India pressures key buyers not to be silent
The final destination of the Borakai was the port of Wadinar in northwest India.
The crude oil on board was an order purchased by Indian companies from Russia.
France's arrest of the ship is equivalent to intercepting India's strategic energy.
It is reported that on October 2, Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri urgently summoned French diplomats in India to ask for an explanation of the move.
India is an important strategic partner of France in the Asia-Pacific region.
From the "Wind of the Wind" fighter jets to nuclear energy and orbital transportation, the cooperation between the two countries is broad.
If France does not really hold the ship, not only to blame Russia, but also to blame India, eventually even its allies will complain.
Shadow Fleet: an upgraded version of Russia’s grey transport network
Another central issue of the “Bolakai” incident is the operation model of the Russian “Shadow Fleet”.
According to the French Attorney General of Brest, Stefan Kellenberg, Although this oil tanker named "Borakai" claims to fly the Benin flag, its registration information is inconsistent.
So they suspect the vessel was actually controlled by Russia, only to cover up the true background through a third-party registration.
Since 2022, the West has imposed a number of sanctions on Russia, including an oil export ceiling and a ship insurance blockade.
Russia immediately established a gray transportation network.
These ships “hang third-country flags, shut down AIS systems, and frequently change shipping names” have become the main force to circumvent sanctions.
But by 2025, this network has "evolved".
The Borakai once turned off its AIS signal in the Danish waters and after a short stay, circled the North Sea and entered the Atlantic Ocean.
In addition, its sudden “change of head” has also caused a high alert of French intelligence agencies.
It is at this node that France launched interception.
After the French army seized the tanker, they did not catch the man and left, but instead chose to stay on the ship for a long period of time and strictly restrict the crew's operations on the tanker.
But things were obviously not going well, The crew of the tanker refused to cooperate with the investigation and could not even produce documents proving the ship's nationality.
Putin later issued a warning. Although he did not directly threaten retaliatory action, his tone was very strong.
The French government convened an emergency security meeting to discuss the possible consequences of seizing oil tankers.
The sanctions system of the West, in the face of the “shadow fleet”, appears to be reluctant.
EU splits: France is alone and no one responds
France originally hoped to use this action to promote the EU to introduce a "maritime law enforcement mechanism" at the Copenhagen summit.
According to reports, French President Macron announced at the EU Summit in Copenhagen, He will hold a high-level military meeting in Europe “in the coming days” to respond to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and “coordinate with NATO within the framework of the “Will Alliance.”
However, the reality is that there are huge differences within the EU member states.
Hungary, Slovakia and other countries have expressly opposed the expansion of energy sanctions.
Germany and Italy, on the other hand, are concerned about angering Russia and causing a recurrence of the energy crisis.
France's tough action has not received even symbolic EU endorsement.
Even the United States and Britain remained silent.
France found itself "alone".
Without multilateral support, France could not bear the double political and economic pressure.
Therefore, when Russian President Vladimir Putin made a tough statement, France finally chose to give in.
This “law enforcement” is ultimately grassroots.
It was like a racing race, with France trying to pull the rope, and the result was that the opponent was stronger than expected.
Sea power and cost: France dares not break the situation
France is a global shipping powerhouse, with Daimler Group ships worldwide.
If Russia chooses to retaliate by seizing French cargo ships in the Black Sea, the Persian Gulf, or the Far East, the French economy will be directly damaged.
Russia is different.
Due to Western sanctions, Russian tankers were mostly excluded from Western ports and insurance systems.
This is I am not afraid to wear shoes.The reality of.
If France continues to detain the "Borakai", It is likely to trigger a maritime confrontation with Russia, which is risky for France, as the French economy relies on the global supply chain and can’t withstand long-term trade conflicts and maritime transport obstructions.
France's concession is not weakness, but a realistic trade-off.
I believe Macron will not regret today's decision, because Russia's revenge is unbearable. Let's imagine what Putin would do if Macron refused to release the tanker.
Trump once described Russia as a "paper tiger," but Putin retorted,"If Russia is a 'paper tiger,' what is NATO?"Macron has told the world the answer to this question with practical actions.