NATO announced on Friday that it would increase its presence in the Baltic Sea following a suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable and four internet lines earlier this week. In response, Estonia launched a naval operation to protect an additional electricity link.
The incident escalated after Finland seized a Russian oil tanker, suspecting it was responsible for the disruption of the Estlink 2 undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia. Finland has since requested NATO’s support in addressing the situation.
Baltic Sea countries are on edge after a series of disruptions to power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While technical malfunctions and accidents remain a concern, the region is increasingly wary of sabotage.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed that Finland and Estonia had agreed to request a stronger NATO presence, which has been communicated to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. NATO is preparing to enhance its military presence in the region, though specific deployments have not been disclosed.
In addition, Sweden has stepped up its surveillance of ship traffic to safeguard vital undersea infrastructure, deploying both aircraft and vessels while coordinating efforts with the Swedish Navy and other allied nations.
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