NATO has announced plans to bolster its military presence in the Baltic Sea region, a decision spurred by recent suspected sabotage incidents involving an undersea power cable and four internet lines.
In light of these troubling events, Estonia has launched a naval operation to safeguard an electricity link impacted by the disruptions.
Recent Developments
On Thursday, Finnish authorities detained a vessel believed to be transporting Russian oil.
They suspect this ship may have been involved in the damage to the Estlink 2 undersea power cable, which links Finland and Estonia, as well as some associated fiber optic lines.
Following this incident, Finland reached out to NATO for support.
The Baltic Sea states are on high alert after a series of disruptions affecting essential infrastructures, such as power cables, telecommunications, and gas pipelines since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
While fears of sabotage linger, experts also acknowledge that underwater infrastructure can suffer from accidents or technical failures.
During a press conference, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that both Estonia and Finland seek a strengthened NATO presence in the region.
He relayed this message to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who later confirmed discussions regarding the ongoing investigation in Finland and expressed NATO’s backing for their efforts.
Security Measures and Investigations
While specific details regarding the troop deployments remain under wraps, a NATO official indicated that plans for an increased military presence are in the works.
Further, a senior European diplomat noted that various options for enhancing security measures are being explored.
In the meantime, Sweden’s coastguard ramped up its surveillance of maritime traffic to protect vital underwater structures, collaborating with the Swedish navy and other nations while deploying both aircraft and vessels for monitoring purposes.
In response to the ship’s seizure, the Kremlin dismissed its relevance, a familiar stance as Russia has consistently denied involvement in issues impacting Baltic infrastructure.
On the operational front, the Estonian navy has taken definitive steps to secure the Estlink 1 subsea cable.
Estonia’s Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, underscored that threats to essential underwater infrastructure would prompt appropriate reactions, expressing concern over the frequency of damage to subsea facilities—so much so that it raises doubts about whether all incidents are merely accidental.
Future Outlook
These latest developments have sparked discussions around the need for updated maritime laws to explicitly prohibit damage to undersea infrastructure, a point emphasized by Estonia’s justice minister in comments to Reuters.
The disruption of Estlink 2, which has a capacity of 658 megawatts (MW), was first noted around midday local time on Wednesday, leaving just the 358 MW Estlink 1 operational, as per reports from both countries’ electricity grid operators.
Finnish investigators believe the detained vessel, the Eagle S, registered in the Cook Islands, may have caused the damage by dragging its anchor across the seabed—a pattern observed in similar incidents in recent history.
President Stubb mentioned the importance of stopping the Eagle S to prevent further complications.
Finland’s customs service noted that this vessel might belong to a covert fleet of aging tankers attempting to evade sanctions against Russian oil sales.
Consequently, Finnish police have initiated an investigation into the Eagle S on charges of aggravated criminal mischief, interrogating crew members in the process.
The border guard is also assisting with seabed inspections as part of this inquiry.
The company associated with the Eagle S, Caravella LLCFZ, based in the UAE, has not responded to multiple inquiries for comment.
Additionally, Peninsular Maritime, identified as the vessel’s technical manager from India, was unreachable for immediate statements.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland remarked that it remains too early to assess whether Russia played a role in the cable’s damage.
Fingrid, the Finnish grid operator, and Elering from Estonia anticipate that repairs for the Estlink 2 could take months, aiming for a projected return to service by August 1, 2025.
This outage could potentially drive up electricity prices through the winter months.
Nevertheless, it will not alter plans to disconnect Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the former Soviet joint power grid with Russia and Belarus in February, according to Elering.
In light of these events, Lithuania’s navy has ramped up surveillance and patrol activities in the Baltic.
Concurrently, Swedish police are investigating damage to two telecom cables in the Baltic Sea, with a Chinese vessel coming from Russia as a possible suspect.
Finnish and Estonian authorities are also continuing their investigations into last year’s incidents involving the Balticconnector gas pipeline and several telecom cables, investigating yet another Chinese vessel linked to these events.
Source: Insurancejournal.com
