The United States has declined a proposal from Canada, currently holding the presidency of the Group of Seven (G7), to create a task force designed to address the 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers associated with Russia.

This decision was reported ahead of a G7 foreign ministers' meeting scheduled in Quebec later this week.

The term 'shadow fleet' describes a collection of aging oil tankers whose owners conceal their identities to evade the international sanctions imposed on Russia following its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The Canadian initiative sought to establish a collaborative effort among G7 nations to monitor potential violations of these sanctions.

In the lead-up to negotiations on a unified G7 statement regarding maritime security, the US advocated for enhanced language focusing on countering China while simultaneously seeking to dilute references concerning Russia.

Reports indicate the US successfully proposed the removal of the word 'sanctions' and altered phrasing regarding Russia's capacity to sustain its military actions in Ukraine, replacing it with a focus on 'earning revenue.'

The G7’s final communiqués are subject to consensus, meaning that no agreement is solidified until it is formally published.

Thus, ongoing discussions may yield alterations to the concluding statements resulting from the summit.

Diplomatic representatives from the US informed their G7 allies of a broader reassessment of America's role in multilateral institutions, suggesting a reluctance to engage in fresh collaborative initiatives at this time.

Meanwhile, European nations are currently deliberating strategies that would empower them to seize Russian oil-exporting tankers operating in the Baltic Sea.

These proposals could utilize international law to facilitate the taking of control over such vessels on grounds related to environmental concerns or acts of piracy.