34 tankers transporting Russian and Iranian oil in violation of sanctions imposed against these countries are registered in the Cook Islands, reports AFP citing an analysis of sanctions data.
A small company operates in the Cook Islands, managing one of the fastest-growing ship registries in the world. Owners of foreign vessels, who do not need to personally visit the islands, can pay the company Maritime Cook Islands to allow their ships to sail under the flag of the Cook Islands.
According to U.S. sanctions data, 20 tankers registered in the Cook Islands are suspected of transporting Russian and Iranian oil in 2024 and 2025.
The British sanctions database lists another 14 tankers registered in the Cook Islands during the same period.
New Zealand, the closest diplomatic partner of the Cook Islands, stated that it is "concerned and outraged" by these sanctions violations.
"New Zealand continues to be seriously concerned about how the Cook Islands conducts its ship registry and has repeatedly expressed these concerns to the government of the Cook Islands over the years," said a spokesperson for New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
"This is an absolutely unacceptable and unconvincing turn in foreign policy."
The Cook Islands are in free association with New Zealand, which remains responsible for their defense, foreign affairs, and several other areas.
The Maritime Cook Islands company, which manages the ship registry, rejected accusations of registering inadequately vetted or sanctioned vessels and stated that such vessels are excluded from the registry.
Sanctions imposed by Western countries against the transportation of Russian and Iranian oil aim to limit funding for Tehran's nuclear program and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Vessels violating these sanctions are referred to as the 'shadow fleet' of Russia or Iran.
