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Cem Gürdeniz speaks out on South Star! Harsh reaction to the EU

Retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz reacted on his social media account to the European Union's intervention against the Turkish-owned tanker South Star as part of Operation Irini. In his post, Gürdeniz argued that the intervention is controversial under international law and stated that Turkey should respond more strongly to developments at sea.

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Retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz published a comprehensive statement on his social media account regarding the intervention carried out by the European Union against the Turkish-owned, Cameroon-flagged tanker South Star in international waters of the Mediterranean as part of Operation Irini.

In his post, Gürdeniz criticized the practices carried out by the European Union under the pretext of a "shadow fleet," while suggesting that the approach toward Greek shipping companies during the same period has been different.

CLAIM THAT "GREEK SHIPOWNERS ARE PROTECTED"

Referring to the European Union's latest sanctions package in his post, Gürdeniz stated that an exemption was introduced for Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport contracts signed before 2022.

Arguing that the interests of Greek shipowners are protected through this regulation, Gürdeniz claimed that Brussels can bend its own political rhetoric when economic interests are at stake.

"SHADOW FLEET IS NOT A STATUS RECOGNIZED IN INTERNATIONAL LAW"

In his statement, Cem Gürdeniz expressed that the concept of a "shadow fleet" used by the European Union and the US is not a status recognized in international law.

Cem Gürdeniz's post is as follows:

While the EU unlawfully raids the Turkish-owned South Star tanker in the international waters of the Mediterranean under the pretext of a shadow fleet as part of Operation Irini, Greece manages to protect its own shipping companies carrying Russian LNG by using the political weight provided by being an EU and NATO member.

In the EU's latest sanctions package, a special exemption was introduced for Russian LNG transport contracts signed before 2022, thus securing the interests of Greek shipowners.

This situation is a clear indication that Brussels can even bend its own political rhetoric for the sake of economic interests when necessary.

The same European Union, without a clear mandate from the United Nations Security Council, conducts boarding and inspection activities in international waters on ships defined by the US and EU under the name of a "shadow fleet."

However, a "shadow fleet" is not a status recognized by international law. It is a political definition developed under the leadership of the US and the UK. Conducting physical interventions in international waters based on this concept is highly controversial in terms of the fundamental principles of maritime law.

The boarding operation carried out against the Turkish-owned, Cameroon-flagged South Star tanker is a new example of this approach.

Since the ship is not Turkish-flagged, the fact that permission was not obtained from Ankara may be legally explainable, but the fact that the ship is not on the UN Security Council sanctions list and the intervention is not based on a UN mandate makes the legal legitimacy of the incident controversial.

When it comes to Greece, the EU even bends its own sanctions to protect its shipowners.

When it comes to Turkey, the same circles do not hesitate to resort to practices that push international law.

Today, we are once again facing a different version of the unlawful boarding incident that occurred on the Turkish-flagged container ship ROSALINE-A on November 17, 2020. Without Ankara's permission, German SAT commandos had barbarically boarded our ship and handcuffed the personnel. It is impossible for us to forget this disgraceful event.

Turkey must object to these arbitrary practices at the highest level in order to defend freedom of navigation at sea and international law.

Ankara, which prides itself on its navy, its sea power, and the Blue Homeland doctrine, must react to these illegalities at sea at a high level.

The only reason a country maintains and develops its navy is to protect its interests at sea and to provide deterrence against aggressive bullies at sea when necessary.