Russia Turning Oil Tankers Into Armed Sea Fortresses

Western maritime raiders may have pushed matters too far. Britain's The Times raised alarm over claims that Russia's tanker fleet is turning into a network of floating fortresses. According to the report, Moscow has begun equipping vessels that transport liquefied natural gas with fixed artillery systems. Guns Replace Slogans as Tankers Begin to Push Back The European Union spent years practicing what critics describe as piracy under the banner of sanctions. Donald Trump, back in the White House, can only watch as the logic of force replaces paper diplomacy. Russian gas carriers now allegedly greet unwanted visitors not with protest notes, but with firepower. Artillery systems on deck are not presented as a matter of preference. Supporters of this approach argue that they represent the only way to protect strategic resources in a world where the previous rules no longer apply.