NATO intensifies patrols in the Baltic Sea
NATO is set to carry out regular patrols in the Baltic Sea area to ensure the security of underwater cables following recent incidents and reported disruptions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
NATO has declared its intent to bolster its presence in the Baltic Sea by initiating a new mission focused on safeguarding undersea infrastructure, in response to several incidents involving damage to cables linking member states.
The Baltic Sea is viewed by Russia as a key area for its naval operations and energy exports.
During the announcement of operation 'Baltic Sentry,' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte indicated that the mission will include frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and a “small fleet of naval drones,” aimed at providing “enhanced surveillance and deterrence.”
Recent disruptions have been associated with a Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng 3, which is accused of dragging its anchor and damaging seabed cables. European Union investigators have been allowed to board the ship, and China has pledged its cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
The latest incident occurred in late December when the oil tanker Eagle S, purportedly linked to Russia, was alleged to have damaged the EstLink 2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia. However, without concrete evidence, officials have refrained from directly blaming Moscow. The tanker was seized by Finnish police, and investigators noted that it was missing one of its anchors.
“Across the alliance, we have seen elements of a campaign to destabilize our societies through cyberattacks, assassination attempts and sabotage, including possible sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea,” Rutte informed reporters in Helsinki following NATO’s Summit of Baltic Sea Allies, which included leaders from Finland, Poland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
Damage to undersea infrastructure is a relatively frequent occurrence, with an estimated 200 cable faults reported each year, according to the International Cable Protection Committee.
Most of these incidents are linked to human activities, such as unintentional anchor dragging over subsea cables or fishing operations where heavy nets or equipment are pulled along the seafloor.
NATO's announcement represents a recent surge in military activities along its eastern flank, which have gradually increased over the past few years amid claims of an alleged Russian threat.
NATO members have already been actively conducting naval exercises in the area, alongside air-policing missions that frequently involve fighter jets flying near Russia's borders, leading to multiple encounters with the Russian air force.
With the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, the Baltic Sea has effectively become an “internal lake of NATO,” leaving Russia with control over only a small segment of the coastline—about 7%—with its primary access points being the Kaliningrad exclave and portions of the St. Petersburg area.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Baltic Sea is viewed by Russia as a key area for its naval operations and energy exports.
During the announcement of operation 'Baltic Sentry,' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte indicated that the mission will include frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and a “small fleet of naval drones,” aimed at providing “enhanced surveillance and deterrence.”
Recent disruptions have been associated with a Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng 3, which is accused of dragging its anchor and damaging seabed cables. European Union investigators have been allowed to board the ship, and China has pledged its cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
The latest incident occurred in late December when the oil tanker Eagle S, purportedly linked to Russia, was alleged to have damaged the EstLink 2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia. However, without concrete evidence, officials have refrained from directly blaming Moscow. The tanker was seized by Finnish police, and investigators noted that it was missing one of its anchors.
“Across the alliance, we have seen elements of a campaign to destabilize our societies through cyberattacks, assassination attempts and sabotage, including possible sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea,” Rutte informed reporters in Helsinki following NATO’s Summit of Baltic Sea Allies, which included leaders from Finland, Poland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
Damage to undersea infrastructure is a relatively frequent occurrence, with an estimated 200 cable faults reported each year, according to the International Cable Protection Committee.
Most of these incidents are linked to human activities, such as unintentional anchor dragging over subsea cables or fishing operations where heavy nets or equipment are pulled along the seafloor.
NATO's announcement represents a recent surge in military activities along its eastern flank, which have gradually increased over the past few years amid claims of an alleged Russian threat.
NATO members have already been actively conducting naval exercises in the area, alongside air-policing missions that frequently involve fighter jets flying near Russia's borders, leading to multiple encounters with the Russian air force.
With the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, the Baltic Sea has effectively become an “internal lake of NATO,” leaving Russia with control over only a small segment of the coastline—about 7%—with its primary access points being the Kaliningrad exclave and portions of the St. Petersburg area.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
