**Sweden Boosts Military Presence in Baltic Sea**
Sweden is increasing its military presence in the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on January 12 that three warships and a radar reconnaissance aircraft will be deployed to respond to suspected sabotage of underwater cables.
The cables, which include telecommunication and energy lines, were damaged over six months ago. Only two out of four telecom cables and one power cable have been repaired. Authorities suspect the Russian vessel “Eagle S” of being involved in the sabotage.
Sweden’s decision follows a similar move by its NATO allies Finland and Estonia to send up to 10 NATO vessels to guard infrastructure under the Baltic Sea until April.
**NATO Increases Presence in Region**
This is part of NATO’s efforts to increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea. The alliance wants to improve situational awareness and deter potential threats. There have been growing concerns about Russian sabotage operations in Europe since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
**Regional Security Summit**
A summit for NATO member states with access to the Baltic Sea will be held in Finland on January 14 to discuss regional security threats, including the suspected Russian sabotage.
**Other Developments**
In other news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for calling Ukraine an unreliable partner. The two leaders have a history of disagreements over issues like gas supplies and European integration.
Ukraine is also seeking to swap prisoners with Russia. The country’s President Zelensky said he is ready to hand over Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity in exchange for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia.
Meanwhile, the US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said there are hopes of talks between former US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin soon.
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