NATO Launches "Baltic Sentry" Mission Amid Undersea Cable Concerns

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NATO has initiated a new mission called "Baltic Sentry" to enhance surveillance of maritime activity in the Baltic Sea following incidents of damage to critical undersea cables. The mission, announced by NATO chief Mark Rutte at a summit in Helsinki, will involve increased deployment of patrol aircraft, warships, and drones among the member states present, including Finland, Estonia, and Sweden.

While no specific culprits were named in connection to the cable damage, Rutte emphasized that NATO will intensify monitoring of what he referred to as Russia's "shadow fleet"—ships operating without clear ownership and suspected of transporting embargoed oil products. Rutte expressed "grave concern" over ongoing infrastructure vulnerabilities, underscoring the significance of undersea cables in securing over 95% of global internet traffic and facilitating financial transactions worth approximately $10 trillion daily.

Recent events have raised alarms regarding unexplained damage to undersea infrastructure in the region. In December, an electricity cable between Finland and Estonia was severed. The Finnish coast guard intervened when the oil tanker Eagle S, flying a Cook Islands flag, was seen posing a threat to other undersea cables. While officials, including Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, noted the frequency of these incidents suggests potential hostile intent, they stopped short of directly accusing Russia.

Rutte made it clear that NATO would take robust actions against suspicious vessels, including boarding and possible seizure, in an effort to safeguard the region’s critical infrastructure.

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