**French Troops Board Suspected "Ghost Ship" Linked to Drones** French military forces have conducted a raid on a vessel dubbed a "ghost ship," which is suspected of being involved in launching drones into NATO airspace. The oil tanker, flagged in Benin, is believed to be one of three ships associated with what is referred to as Vladimir Putin's "shadow fleet." This fleet has been implicated in a series of drone attacks that have raised concerns among NATO allies.

The tanker had previously been blacklisted by the European Union due to its suspected ties to this shadow fleet of ageing tankers. French troops were observed on the deck of the vessel, which is currently anchored off the western coast of France. A military source, who requested anonymity, confirmed to AFP that the boarding took place on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation on Wednesday, stating that the ship is under investigation for "serious offences." However, he refrained from confirming any direct links to drone flights that are believed to have originated from the vessel while it was docked in Denmark from September 22 to 25.

At an EU leaders' summit in Copenhagen, Macron remarked, "There were some very serious offences committed by this crew, which justify the current judicial procedure." When asked about potential drone launches from the tanker, he stated he would "remain very careful" and would not elaborate on any reported connections.

There are ongoing suspicions that these tankers may have been used as launch platforms for drones or as decoys. Data has indicated that another ship, the Astrol 1, navigated through the Øresund Strait on the night when drone sightings were reported. This incident continues to develop as authorities investigate the implications of the vessel's activities.