NATO enhances protection of underwater infrastructure in Baltic Sea

NATO is intensifying its security efforts in the Baltic Sea to safeguard critical underwater infrastructure, with a focus on energy and data cables.

The operation, which is set to begin at the end of this week, will continue through April, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The alliance will deploy up to 10 ships, including patrol vessels from NATO's Baltic Fleet, as well as additional ships provided by member states. The primary goal of the operation is to deter potential sabotage activities and reduce the risk of damage to key underwater facilities.

Special attention will be given to the protection of energy and data cables, which are vital to regional security and connectivity. The ships will conduct patrols in both the Gulf of Finland, where Finnish and Estonian forces will continue their duties, and the open waters of the Baltic Sea.

NATO has emphasized that its operations will not impede the passage of vessels in international waters, ensuring free movement for all maritime traffic.

On December 25, the Estlink 2 submarine cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia was disconnected from the grid, just over a month after two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic.

Finnish authorities said they were investigating the oil tanker, Eagle S, that sailed from a Russian port, as part of a probe for "aggravated sabotage".

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said: "We've got the situation under control, and we have to continue to work together vigilantly to make sure that our critical infrastructure is not damaged by outsiders."

Officials suspect the tanker is part of the Russian "shadow fleet", which refers to ships that transport Russian crude and oil products embargoed due to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The Eagle S vessel, which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, was en route to Port Said in Egypt. Police suspect that the oil tanker's anchor might have damaged the power cable.

By Vafa Guliyeva