On 19 June 2025, Ivars Lasis, Under Secretary of State, Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in an online meeting of the Baltic and Nordic foreign ministers and senior officials in an enhanced format (NB8++) to discuss further actions to reduce the risks posed by the Russian shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea, thereby promoting maritime safety and ensuring protection of the underwater critical infrastructure and marine environment.
The Political Director underlined the need to preserve and strengthen the integrity of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and to ensure its uniform interpretation and respect for international maritime regulations and standards. Latvia and the other NB8 countries agree that the rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, including freedom of navigation, do not apply to vessels.
In conclusion, the participants adopted an NB8++ statement on joint actions to further counter the shadow fleet under international law.
Joint Actions to Further Counter the Shadow Fleet
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In the NB8++ format, the Baltic states and Nordic countries Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden are joined by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom.