Germany to join NATO surveillance efforts in Baltic Sea

Germany has announced its commitment to participating in NATO’s enhanced monitoring operations in the Baltic Sea, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

Speaking on the matter, Scholz emphasized that Germany would contribute to the intensification of surveillance in the region by deploying its own resources, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

"Germany will take part in the intensification of surveillance, using its own capabilities. And so we will take appropriate measures to make this possible," the Chancellor stated.

Scholz underscored the gravity of recent events in the Baltic Sea, describing a series of serious incidents that have raised alarm. He noted that critical infrastructure vital to the economic stability of European countries could be at risk due to these developments.

"There have been a series of serious incidents in the Baltic Sea that should alarm us," he remarked.

The Chancellor expressed concern that these incidents might be part of a broader "hybrid strategy" aimed at European nations. He further emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance security in the region, stating, "It is therefore important that we are here now to discuss how we can together achieve greater security in the Baltic Sea region."

Chancellor Scholz is currently attending a summit of NATO member states from the Baltic Sea region in Helsinki. Approximately 10 ships will be deployed as part of the alliance's enhanced monitoring and security efforts in the region.

The move follows a series of alarming incidents, including a recent emergency disconnection of the EstLink 2 energy cable, which runs along the bottom of the Gulf of Finland between Finland and Estonia. The incident, which occurred on December 25, is under investigation to determine the cause. Finnish authorities, including police and border guards, have detained the Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker Eagle S on suspicion of its involvement in the damage to the cable.

Further investigation revealed that three cables between Finland and Estonia had been damaged.

The damage was not isolated, as two additional cables in the Baltic Sea were affected in November. On November 17-18, one cable linking Germany to Finland and another connecting Sweden to Lithuania were also severed, raising concerns over the security of critical infrastructure in the region.

The series of incidents has sparked fears of potential targeted actions against vital European energy infrastructure, prompting increased vigilance and coordinated efforts among NATO allies to safeguard the Baltic Sea region.

By Vafa Guliyeva