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PARIS. The French Ministry of Defense announced today that a French Navy patrol vessel fired warning shots at an unregistered small craft near the maritime border between French and Spanish territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Ministry's statement, the small craft, carrying unidentified cargo, attempted to enter French waters and ignored orders to stop, attempting to evade pursuit. French authorities suspect the vessel may have been involved in smuggling materials for organizations allegedly supported by the South American Union (SAU). Unconfirmed reports suggest the cargo included printed materials believed to be for information operations and illicit communication devices. In response, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation, labeling the French action a "clear violation of international maritime law." The SAU Supreme Council swiftly reacted, denouncing France's actions as an "intentional disruption of European stability and an infringement on Spanish sovereignty." This incident follows a recent armed clash between French and Spanish border patrols in the Pyrenees mountain range, further escalating tensions between the two nations. The ongoing dispute between France and the SAU over the latter's expanding influence in Europe appears to have entered a new phase.