NATO to deploy additional ships to secure Baltic infrastructure

NATO is set to deploy a dozen extra vessels to safeguard underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea until spring, with operations expected to begin later this week and continue at least until April.

Estonia hopes to negotiate with member states to establish a rotating system, similar to current air policing arrangements, to monitor the sea after this initial deployment, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed that discussions are underway to establish a rotating model for maritime operations, where NATO member states would take turns leading the efforts.

"In terms of maritime defence, we have always been clear that the Baltic Sea cannot be treated as separate segments. NATO has agreed that Baltic States will jointly run the maritime operations centre for the region's defence. Germany will initially take the lead, and negotiations are ongoing to determine how Sweden and Poland could be involved, with a rotation model similar to the air policing system in the Baltic," Pevkur explained.

In addition, Pevkur revealed plans to present a draft bill to the Estonian government this week, aimed at granting the navy greater authority to respond in cases of suspected sabotage.

"This would mean that the Estonian Navy would have the right to intervene even in the economic zone. There is no question of territorial waters, where this right already exists. We are drafting a law that would give the Navy the authority to intervene in international waters if necessary, potentially with the help of the police or border guard helicopters, or by involving foreign forces," Pevkur said.

He hopes the draft will be discussed at the government meeting on January 9, adding, "The message is clear: if someone intends to deliberately attack Estonia's critical infrastructure, we will prevent or disrupt it."

Estonia's Navy requires larger vessels, with a decision on their specific requirements expected by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Former Navy commander Jüri Saska highlighted the current limitations of Estonia's naval assets, pointing out that the existing vessels were acquired based on availability rather than strategic needs.

"We have three identical minesweepers, one mine-layer, and four different types of patrol vessels. The latter do not carry significant military capabilities—apart from presence," said Saska.

He suggested that future naval operations could be simplified by reducing the number of ship types. "Perhaps we need just two or three types to reduce our logistical footprint, streamline maintenance, and improve training," he added.

The growing threat of attacks on underwater infrastructure underscores the need to clarify responsibility for its protection. Saska noted that, as of now, no specific entity is tasked with safeguarding these assets.

"Underwater infrastructure protection has not been directly assigned to anyone, despite the fact that major incidents have already occurred over the past year. If no one is responsible for it, nothing will be done, and we are left staring at an empty space, wondering who should have acted. I’m not necessarily saying it must fall under the Navy, but today, that seems the most logical solution," Saska said.

Underwater surveillance systems are also seen as a key component in protecting infrastructure. Estonia's Navy has been collaborating with Dutch company Lobster Robotics, which provides autonomous underwater drones capable of quickly recording maritime activities.

"We see a clear trend in the industry towards autonomous underwater drones with increasingly sophisticated sensors," said Stephan Rutten, CEO of Lobster Robotics.

Pevkur also stressed the importance of improving underwater surveillance systems. "We don’t have the same quality of imagery as Sweden or Finland, but we are working on sonar systems that can detect previously unknown sounds, such as the sound of an anchor dropping or movement on the seabed. This will trigger a signal to the maritime operations centre, allowing a response," he said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev