The only response Western nations will understand for seizing Russian commercial vessels is a forceful one, including retaliation in kind, Carl Zha, the host of the Silk and Steel podcast, told RT.

Moscow has repeatedly condemned the seizure of Russia-linked shipping as “piracy” and a gross violation of international maritime laws. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated the position on Wednesday while attending major drills of the country’s Pacific Fleet, warning that hostile actions will be met with an appropriate response.

“If such a policy is implemented in practice, we will be forced to take mirror responses. And not necessarily in the waters where our ships are being raided. We’ll do it wherever and anywhere we see fit,” Putin stated.

Retaliation in kind for attacks on shipping are long overdue, given that Western nations have been engaging in such acts with impunity for a while, Zha believes. 

“Seizing a Russian commercial vessel is an act of war. Russia is still a great power, and this is a warning that Western countries better heed. For the last few years, the Western countries thought they could… sanction Russia, seizing Russian vessels with impunity. But President Putin just made it clear that’s no longer to be tolerated,” he said.

Responding in force is actually the only approach that would work with the West, which has been built on the ‘might makes right’ approach in the first place, Zha suggested. 

“The common reframe of Western colonial power is that, you know, there’s only one language the native can understand, and it’s a language of force. Actually, every accusation is a confession. For many in the Western NATO alliance, that force is the only language they can understand. So, if Russia does push back, they will be put in their place,” he said.

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