New powers demanded to tackle Russia's 'shadow fleets'

 

Former Justice Secretary Calls for Overhaul of UK Sanctions System Amid Rising Global Threats

Sir Robert Buckland, the former Justice Secretary, is calling for a sweeping reform of the UK’s sanctions framework to better defend national interests against adversarial states like Russia and China, as well as emerging global threats.

In a new report published with the Adam Smith Institute, Sir Robert warns that the current sanctions regime is outdated and ineffective in the face of modern challenges such as cyber-attacks, economic coercion, environmental sabotage, and political interference. He highlights growing concerns over Russia’s use of “shadow fleets” to bypass oil sanctions and the economic disruption caused by Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. He also singles out China’s use of economic pressure tactics and illegal fishing as threats to UK prosperity.

“The UK’s existing system, shaped by past conflicts and bureaucratic layering, is no longer fit for purpose,” Sir Robert writes, alongside co-author Jasper Ostle. “Hostile actors now operate in the grey areas between war and peace, public and private, state and proxy. Our sanctions model—relying heavily on asset freezes, blacklists, and blanket bans—is reactive, rigid, and full of loopholes.”

The report underscores the urgency for a modern, tiered sanctions system backed by enhanced enforcement tools and robust intelligence-sharing. It advocates for deeper financial cooperation within the "Five Eyes" alliance—comprising the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—to detect and respond to sanctions evasion.

One of the report’s key findings is that Russia uses a fleet of over 435 tankers and ships to sidestep oil embargoes. It also raises alarms over environmental threats posed by hostile nations, noting that Chinese fishing fleets are depleting contested waters and affecting UK seafood markets, while Russia’s post-Ukraine Arctic drilling poses ecological risks to the Atlantic.

The report also warns of attempts by foreign powers to interfere in UK democracy, including through bot-driven election meddling and infiltration of British universities.

Sanctions, the authors argue, can be highly effective if designed with precision and backed by strong implementation. “Sanctions need not amount to economic self-harm or diplomatic theatre,” they write. “Done right, they can be targeted, proportionate, and powerful—defending liberal values without weakening liberal institutions.”

Sir Bill Browder, a prominent critic of the Kremlin and former investor in Russia, echoed the need for a more agile and forceful sanctions approach. “Every bad actor looks for ways to dodge sanctions,” he said. “We must stay ahead of them and close those loopholes.” He suggested that a coordinated message from the UK, EU, and US warning countries like India against buying Russian oil—backed by asset freezes and trade restrictions—could cripple Putin’s war economy within months.

Responding to the report, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office stated: “Sanctions remain one of our most vital tools for shaping a safer, fairer world. They have effectively targeted corrupt elites, addressed violence in the West Bank, and weakened Russia’s capacity to wage war.”

The spokesperson added that since 2022, the UK and its allies have sanctioned 2,400 individuals, frozen £25 billion in assets, and denied Russia access to £450 billion in potential war funding.