NATO has announced plans to deploy approximately 10 ships to protect vital underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, as reported by Finnish newspaper Yle. The ships will be stationed near energy and data cables to deter any potential sabotage attempts. This decision comes in response to a series of disruptions in the region, including a broken power cable between Finland and Estonia and damage to four telecommunications cables during Christmas.
In light of these incidents, Finland has launched a criminal investigation into the oil tanker Eagle S, which is part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' and is suspected of causing the damage. Estonian authorities have also taken action to protect the Estlink-2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia.
The situation has garnered attention from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who has pledged to increase military presence in the Baltic Sea. Additionally, the Joint Expeditionary Force, a U.K.-led defense cooperation group, has announced plans to enhance monitoring of ship traffic using artificial intelligence.
Several other disruptions have occurred in the region in recent months, including a broken internet cable between Finland and Germany, as well as another cable outage between Finland and Sweden. These incidents have raised concerns about the security of vital infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, it is clear that the protection of underwater infrastructure is a top priority for NATO and its allies. By increasing naval presence and implementing advanced monitoring technology, efforts are being made to safeguard critical assets and prevent further disruptions in the Baltic Sea.