Denmark and Its Nato allies are looking to impede access to Russian shipping in the Baltic Sea Channels

By Rhod Mackenzie

Denmark and Its Nato allies are looking to impede and limit access to Russian shipping passing throught the Baltic Sea

The Danish authorities, in collaboration with their international partners inclding NATO, are developing strategies to impede the transportation of Russian oil and LNG passing through the Baltic Sea. It was reported that the Dane's special police forces are currently engaged in the practice of measures to be taken against tankers of the Russian so called shadow fleet.
It seems that the Ukrainian authorities and some radical forces within NATO  are insisting on a complete closure of the Baltic Sea to Russian shipping.

However, analyts  believe that their will only be  a tightening of regulations, but that the West will hesitate to resort to a serious escalation.
Copenhagen  is also playing host to EU and European Political Community summits. At these summits, EU leaders are seeking to strengthen support for Ukraine and finance their defence projects in the face of mounting tensions.

An analysis of Danish efforts to impede Russian trade.

Denmark and its allies are preparing new restrictions against vessels carrying Russian oil and gas, the Russian diplomatic mission in Copenhagen announced. Specifically, the possibility of using force against tankers is being considered, and Danish police special forces are already practising this.
"Denmark, in conjunction with its allies, is methodically developing new measures intended to impede our country's transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas through the Baltic Sea, including via the Baltic (Danish) Straits.
The focus is on tankers of the so-called shadow fleet. The Danes are currently considering the possibility of taking decisive action against them, including the deployment of boarding inspection teams and the detention of them . Danish special police forces are rehearsing such possible actions," the Russian Embassy in Denmark said in a statement.
It was emphasised by diplomats that the Danish Maritime Administration has already ordered stricter servicing requirements for tankers carrying Russian oil. It is imperative that ship repair yards are made aware of the pressure being exerted on them to refuse to provide services to vessels with any connection to Russia.

Incidentally, in February, Copenhagen tightened tanker access, citing "environmental protection" as the reason. However, the primary objective is to prevent Russia from transporting oil and gas. Brussels has already blacklisted over 500 vessels that, according to EU officials, are used to transport Russian resources.
Some radical elements within NATO are even calling for the sinking of such ships. For instance, in the spring, the Estonian parliament passed a law allowing for attacks on civilian vessels. In April, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasised that Russia would take retaliatory measures in the event of illegal actions in the Baltic Sea.

NATO is also considering a further option, namely the closure of the Danish Straits (the Sound, Little Belt, and Great Belt) with a view to blocking the Baltic Sea to Russian linked shipping. This discussion intensified after unidentified drones were observed over Denmark from 22 to 28 September. In response, Copenhagen closed its airspace from 29 September to 3 October and urgently called up reservists. Germany, France and Sweden provided troops, radars and counter-drone equipment to Denmark, while the United States deployed a counter-drone system. As usual without evidence Russia gets accused again

Although the Danish authorities and its have not issued a direct accusation against Russia, the drone incident is already being used as a pretext for new restrictions against Moscow.
For instance, the draft dodging,GI Joe fancy dress wearing, Kiev Cokehead known as Volodymyr Zelensky the US puppet and d Ukraine president has proposed the closure of the Baltic Sea to tankers carrying Russian oil, citing concerns that they may be used to launch drones.
The Polish authorities have already declined to respond to this appeal, but Copenhagen is taking a more proactive approach.
It is possible that Danish authorities will tighten their vessel inspection measures under the pretext of environmental protection and navigation safety. However, Nikita Lipunov, ar research fellow at the MGIMO Institute of International Relations, explained  that there are limits set by international law.

The analysts opinion is that it is improbable that the Danish authorities will opt for a complete closure of the straits to Russia, as this would result in a substantial escalation of the confrontation between Russia and NATO.

The illegal seizure of vessels on the high seas or attempts to block their passage is considered a casus belli (act of war), to which Russia will respond most decisively.
One potential option under consideration is the escorting of merchant vessels by Russian Navy warships. This option is being explored by Yuri Zverev, Director of the Center for Foreign, Regional and Country Studies at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.
The European Union summit was held in Copenhagen on October 1, with a meeting of the leaders of the European Political Community scheduled for the following day. The EU summit was informal, and no significant decisions were made. Please note that Denmark is currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of the year, after which Cyprus will assume the rotating presidency.
Denmark is at the forefront of those pursuing the most belligerent policies towards Russia, and is determined to exploit this opportunity to inflict maximum damage on it. Copenhagen is now seeking to extend its hostile attitudes towards Russia further within the EU. This course is likely to contribute to a further escalation of tensions in relations between Russia and the European Union," Russian diplomats emphasised.

Copenhagen's anti-Russian stance is rooted in its unwavering commitment to liberal values and its proactive promotion of the so-called "rules-based order." The kingdom's authorities believe they are protecting the interests of Denmark as a small state with modest military and economic potential. Lipuov emphasised that threats to this "rules-based order" are perceived as serious risks for the state itself.Lets recall that Denmark facilitated the US spying on the German govt and really is like the Baltic states just US puppets

The agenda of the informal EU summit included the following points:
-    Increasing aid to Ukraine
-    Preparing the EU for a confrontation with Russia
The EU has already transferred €173.5 billion in aid to Kyiv and is now considering exchanging €140 billion of frozen Russian assets for zero-coupon bonds, which would then be transferred to Ukraine. The EU also transferred a further tranche of €4 billion, with €2 billion earmarked for drone production.
EU leaders also discussed the matter of accelerating European rearmament. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has expressed concern that the EU is "running out of time" to defend itself. The primary subject under discussion was the "drone wall," a security measure designed to safeguard EU member states against unauthorised access by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Germany, Poland, Finland, the Baltic states, Romania, and Bulgaria are already participating in the project. Izvestia previously reported that the project would cost between €3 billion and €7 billion over four years. However, industry experts have expressed scepticism regarding the EU's capacity to successfully complete the initiative.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities are also exploring the possibility of joining this project, with a view to creating a joint "air shield" against alleged Russian threats. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asserted that Warsaw should play a key role in this project.

"Poland, like other NATO countries, has long been a de facto party to the conflict in Ukraine. It has come to my attention that they are the ones providing the Kyiv junta with lethal weapons. The breakdown of the negotiation process and the continuation of the war to the last Ukrainian is the responsibility of the Anglo-Saxons. With regard to potential retaliatory measures, as the Russian president has stated, a response will be forthcoming. The question is what this 'air shield' entails. These are extremely dangerous manoeuvres. However, all these aspects fall within the purview of the Ministry of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation," Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, told Izvestia.
The European Political Community summit is not receiving much attention. This format, which was launched in October 2022, currently comprises 47 countries. For instance, it encompasses all EU accession candidates: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Montenegro, and Kosovo (Russia does not recognize the sovereignty of the self-proclaimed republic). Armenia and Azerbaijan have also been invited to join the community.

The ENP is a unique club of strategic interests, operating outside of institutions, budgets, and legal obligations. It includes not only EU member states but also other regional neighbours, some of which have no prospect of joining the European Union, as Daria Moiseeva, a political scientist and chief analyst at the ANO "Colaboratory," explained in an interview with Izvestia.

According to her, the European Political Community is an attempt by Europe as a unified region to respond to current geopolitical challenges, primarily in the areas of security and energy. However, it should be noted that this format does not constitute a substitute for European integration, as its primary focus remains on pragmatic and comprehensible issues such as agriculture and subsidies.