NATO Strengthens Baltic Sea Security Amid Rising Tensions with Russia
NATO countries gathered in Helsinki on Tuesday to discuss bolstering security in the Baltic Sea region following the suspected sabotage of undersea cables, which many believe to be the work of Russia. The meeting is expected to produce an announcement regarding a NATO patrol mission aimed at monitoring activities both above and below the sea surface, according to researcher Iro Sarkka from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
Recent months have seen multiple instances of undersea telecom and power cables being severed, leading experts and politicians to accuse Russia of engaging in a form of hybrid warfare. The targeted sabotage has been attributed to a mysterious fleet of vessels, often aging and characterized by ambiguous ownership, which have been transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products that are currently under embargo due to the Ukraine conflict.
At the European Parliament, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the critical need to respond robustly to aggressive actions. "We will also strengthen NATO's military presence in the region, and of course we will discuss the shadow fleet and what to do about it. We are responding and will continue to ensure that no country can exploit or control our infrastructure or disrupt our societies,” Rutte stated while announcing his attendance at the meeting.
Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Henna Virkkunen, highlighted the need for improved preparedness against various kinds of emerging threats, noting the prevalence of hybrid threats in the Baltic region.
In a similar vein, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his disappointment over the increasing frequency of these incidents, describing them as totally unacceptable, yet urged caution in placing blame without concrete evidence.
The agenda for Tuesday's talks includes not only strengthening NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea but also addressing the looming threats from Russia's shadow fleet, according to a statement from Finnish President Alexander Stubb's office. Stubb is co-hosting the meeting alongside Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.
Following the incidents of sabotage, NATO had previously announced in late December its intention to increase its presence in the area, but details on any official operations have yet to be confirmed.
According to Sarkka, a comprehensive NATO operation could act as a deterrent, signaling that NATO is prepared to respond to recent maritime activities. Last week, Finland indicated that NATO would be contributing two vessels to a monitoring mission in the Baltic. Additionally, the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, which includes Nordic and Baltic states alongside the Netherlands, is expected to enhance its surveillance operations. Sweden plans to contribute up to three warships and a surveillance aircraft to the evolving situation.
Tensions in the Baltic Sea have escalated since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A critical incident occurred in September 2022 when a series of underwater blasts damaged the Nord Stream pipelines, which were essential for transporting Russian gas to Europe, with the cause still undetermined.
Most recently, an undersea gas pipeline linking Finland and Estonia was disabled in October 2023 apparently due to damage caused by a Chinese cargo ship's anchor. The alarm bells rang again on Christmas Day with damage to the Estlink 2 electricity cable and four telecom cables connecting Finland to Estonia—this incident manifested just weeks after two telecom cables in Swedish waters were also severed.
Investigators are now focusing on a Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker named Eagle S, suspected to be part of the shadow fleet, which was seized by Finnish police on December 28 amid a criminal investigation. Authorities have rendered the vessel unseaworthy and prohibited its eight crew members from leaving Finland while a probe continues. The suspicion suggests that the cables were damaged as the anchor of the Eagle S was dragged over them.
NATO's response and its planned operations in this crucial region underline the alliance's commitment to monitoring and safeguarding maritime security in the face of growing challenges posed by Russia's aggressive posturing.
Related Sources: