US Vetoes G-7 Shadow Fleet Task Force Plan, Signals More Change

  • US wants to avoid wording on Russian ability to ‘maintain war’
  • Trump presidency has sent shockwaves through allied capitals

In negotiations to formulate a joint statement on maritime issues, the US is pushing to strengthen language around China while watering down wording on Russia.

Photographer: Stefan Sauer/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Photo
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The US has rejected a Canadian proposal to establish a task force that would tackle Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers, as the Trump administration re-evaluates its positions across multilateral organizations, according to people familiar with the matter.

Canada, which holds this year’s revolving G-7 presidency, will host a summit of foreign ministers in Charlevoix, Québec, next week. In negotiations to formulate a joint statement on maritime issues, the US is pushing to strengthen language around China while watering down wording on Russia, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters that aren’t public.