RS pointed to the risk of escalation in the event that Britain and NATO seize Russian ships.

Initiatives by NATO member countries to intercept Russian cargo ships in international waters carry the potential for direct confrontation between the alliance and Russia, which could entail a serious risk of escalation. This was reported on January 15 by the publication Responsible Statecraft (RS).

"The United Kingdom and other NATO countries are now considering the possibility of using their naval forces to <seize ships> carrying Russian cargo. <...> The result could be an escalation to a direct conflict between NATO and Russia," the article says.

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