NATO bolsters military presence amid fears of sabotage in the Baltic Sea
- Finnish authorities have raised concerns about a series of sabotage incidents involving critical underwater infrastructure.
- The oil tanker Eagle S was detained on suspicion of causing damage to the Estlink 2 undersea power cable and multiple internet lines.
- As a result, NATO and Baltic nations are planning to enhance their military presence to safeguard critical infrastructure.
In late December 2024, Finnish authorities detained the oil tanker named Eagle S. This action followed an investigation into suspected sabotage regarding an undersea power cable known as Estlink 2, which connects Finland and Estonia, along with the disruption of several internet lines. The sabotage incident, believed to have been executed on Christmas Day, has raised significant security concerns among Baltic nations, particularly due to a series of similar incidents involving critical infrastructure in the region, all occurring against the backdrop of heightened tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Investigators suspect that the anchor of the Eagle S may have dragged along the seabed and caused extensive damage to both the Estlink 2 cable, rated at 658 megawatts, and the associated fibre optic lines. Notably, the cable disconnection has serious implications for energy supplies, leaving only a smaller operational cable, Estlink 1, to manage the electricity transmission between Finland and Estonia. Repairing the Estlink 2 cable is expected to take several months, further escalating the urgency for NATO and Baltic nations to bolster their military presence in the region in response to these precarious issues. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has expressed a commitment to maintaining heightened vigilance around critical infrastructure, emphasizing cooperation with NATO to prevent acts of sabotage in the future. Furthermore, the Eagle S is considered to be part of a so-called 'shadow fleet' used by Russia to circumvent sanctions imposed due to its military actions in Ukraine and is believed to be equipped with high-tech gear that raises suspicions of espionage activities. The recent incidents involving the Eagle S are part of a disturbing trend in the Baltics, with ships reportedly damaging undersea cables and threatening critical infrastructure on an alarming regularity. The objective of these operations remains unclear, but the frequency of such innovations has challenged the fortitude of regional security frameworks. Both Russian authorities and the crew of the Eagle S have denied any involvement in the sabotage, leaving investigations ongoing and tensions in the Baltic Sea region increasingly precarious as international entities call for further protective measures to safeguard energy links and national security.