NATO Increases Military Presence in Baltic Sea Region
Estonia has confirmed that NATO will increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland regions. This move is aimed at protecting underwater infrastructure, such as power cables.
Recently, a power cable connecting Estonia to Finland was damaged. The Estonian Ministry of Defense believes that Russia‘s “shadow fleet” may have been involved in the incident. These ships are used by Russia to avoid EU and G7 sanctions and deliver oil to countries like India.
The deputy head of strategic communications at the Estonian Ministry of Defense, Roland Murof, said that NATO’s increased presence will help maintain vigilance and prevent future incidents. He also stated that immediate responses, such as boarding vessels, remain under the jurisdiction of member states.
The enhanced NATO support will enable sustained naval operations in the region and demonstrate unity among allies. This move comes after a Finnish probe found evidence of anchor drag marks linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.