Incident in the Baltic Sea, NATO will increase its presence in the region

2024-12-27 16:35:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

NATO said on Friday it would increase its presence in the Baltic Sea after suspected damage to an undersea power cable and four internet lines. Likewise, Estonia, a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, announced that it had launched a naval operation to protect a parallel electricity line.

On Thursday, Finland detained a ship carrying Russian oil on suspicion that it caused damage to the Estlink 2 undersea power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia, as well as fiber optic lines. Helsinki said it has requested NATO's support.

Baltic Sea countries are on high alert for acts of sabotage following a series of incidents against power cables, telecom lines and gas pipelines since the start of Russia's offensive against Ukraine in 2022, although underwater equipment in many cases faces malfunctions or accidents.

"We have agreed with Estonia and we have also informed the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, that our desire is to have an increased NATO presence," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said at a press conference.

Mr Rutte said he had spoken with Mr Stubb and expressed his support for the Finnish-led investigation.

"NATO will increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea," Secretary Rutte wrote on the X platform.

The Kremlin expressed concern over Finland's detention of the vessel carrying Russian oil. In the past, Moscow has denied involvement in any infrastructure incidents in the Baltics. Estonia said its navy is committed to maintaining the underwater cable 'Estlink 1', which is still operational.

"If there is any threat to critical underwater infrastructure in our region, there will also be a response," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on the X network.

Mr. Tsahkna said on Thursday that damage to underwater installations in the region has become so frequent that it is hard to believe that they are all caused by accidents or lack of maintenance.

The incidents highlight the need to update the old maritime law, which specifically makes it illegal to damage underwater infrastructure, the country's justice minister told Reuters on Friday.

The disconnection of the 658-megawatt Estlink 2 line occurred on Wednesday afternoon, leaving only the 358-megawatt Estlink 1 line operating between Finland and Estonia, power grid operators said. electricity of the country.

Finnish investigators believe the seized vessel - a Cook Island-registered vessel named 'Eagle S' - may have caused the damage by dragging its anchor along the seabed, one of several such incidents in recent years.

The Finnish president said the detention of the Eagle S was necessary to prevent further damage.

Finland's customs service has said it believes the vessel was part of a so-called 'shadow fleet' of obsolete ships intended to avoid sanctions for selling Russian oil.

But Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, asked about the 'Eagle S' ship, said on Thursday that it is too early to say whether Russia played any role in damaging the cables./ VOA