NATO deploys forces to Baltic Sea countering undersea cable sabotage

Jan 15

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)

NATO launched “Baltic Sentry,” an operation to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following incidents of damage to undersea cables and pipelines. The alliance is deploying frigates, patrol aircraft and naval drones, with measures that could include boarding or impounding ships suspected of endangering infrastructure.

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The operation is part of NATO’s response to rising sabotage concerns after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Finland recently accused a Russian tanker of damaging the Estlink 2 power line and telecom cables by dragging its anchor. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Russia’s shadow fleet controls the vessel. He noted further investigation could confirm details.

Sweden, a NATO member since March 2024, contributed three warships and an ASC 890 surveillance aircraft to the operation. Its coast guard deployed four monitoring ships, with seven more on standby.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the security situation in the region as uneasy. He said Sweden is not at war but is also not at peace.

Since 2023, at least ten undersea cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged, affecting countries including Finland, Estonia, Germany and Lithuania. These cables and pipelines are vital for trade and energy links in the region.

NATO members highlighted the importance of safeguarding such infrastructure amid security concerns.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said NATO is targeting Russia’s shadow fleet with sanctions and other measures to protect critical infrastructure. Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said it’s challenging to monitor the Baltic Sea due to the 2,000 ships crossing daily. He emphasized that NATO’s efforts in the Baltic Sea are meant to deter further incidents.

Tags: Baltic Sea, Cable, Finland, Infrastructure, Internet, NATO, Nord Stream pipeline, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Sweden

[craig nigrelli]

NATO IS INCREASING ITS PRESENCE IN THE BALTIC SEA TO SAFEGUARD CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AMID GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT SABOTAGE. THE OPERATION, CALLED “BALTIC SENTRY,” COMES AFTER REPEATED DAMAGE TO UNDERSEA CABLES AND PIPELINES, INCIDENTS TIED TO RISING SECURITY THREATS FOLLOWING RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE.

THE MISSION INCLUDES FRIGATES, PATROL AIRCRAFT, AND NAVAL DRONES. NATO HAS WARNED IT MAY BOARD OR IMPOUND SHIPS SUSPECTED OF ENDANGERING VITAL SYSTEMS. ONE RECENT INCIDENT INVOLVED FINLAND ACCUSING A RUSSIAN TANKER OF DAMAGING THE ESTLINK 2 POWER LINE AND TELECOM CABLES BY DRAGGING ITS ANCHOR ACROSS THE SEABED.

FINNISH PRESIDENT ALEXANDER STUBB LINKED THE VESSEL TO RUSSIA’S SHADOW FLEET, THOUGH INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING.

IN RESPONSE TO RISING TENSIONS — FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A NATO MEMBER — SWEDEN IS DEPLOYING THREE WARSHIPS AND A SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT TO THE OPERATION. ITS COAST GUARD IS CONTRIBUTING FOUR MONITORING SHIPS, WITH SEVEN MORE ON STANDBY. SWEDEN JOINED NATO IN MARCH 2024 AND IS STEPPING UP TO ADDRESS GROWING REGIONAL THREATS.

SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER ULF KRISTERSSON REFLECTED THE REGION’S TENSION, SAYING SWEDEN IS NEITHER AT WAR NOR FULLY AT PEACE.

THE BALTIC SEA’S UNDERSEA CABLES AND PIPELINES ARE VITAL, CONNECTING NORDIC, BALTIC, AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR TRADE AND ENERGY. SINCE 2023, SABOTAGE INCIDENTS HAVE DISRUPTED CONNECTIONS AND IMPACTED NATIONS LIKE FINLAND, ESTONIA, AND GERMANY.

NATO LEADERS, INCLUDING GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ, ARE TARGETING RUSSIA’S SHADOW FLEET WITH SANCTIONS AND OTHER MEASURES TO PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE. LATVIA’S PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHALLENGE OF MONITORING THE BALTIC’S 2,000 DAILY SHIP CROSSINGS BUT SAID NATO’S ACTIONS SEND A STRONG DETERRENT MESSAGE.

NATO HAS REINFORCED ITS WARNING: THREATS TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BRING CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST ROGUE SHIPS.

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