The oil tanker “Eagle S” is suspected of causing damage to five submarine cables in the Baltic Sea by dragging its anchor on the seabed.
Visa Moiranin | Magazine Photo | AFP via Getty Images
European countries must prepare for further incidents in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure, leaders of the region’s NATO nations said on Tuesday ahead of a security meeting in Helsinki.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Baltic states were put on high alert with a series of disruptions to power cables, telecommunications lines and gas pipelines, and were discussing an increased NATO presence.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said about 2,000 ships cross the Baltic Sea every day, making it difficult to fully monitor them.
“Let’s face it, we can’t ensure 100% protection, but if we send a bold signal, then I think these incidents will decrease or even stop,” Rinkevics told reporters.
Finnish police last month seized a tanker carrying Russian oil and said they suspected the ship had damaged the Finland-Estonia Estlink 2 power line and four telecommunications cables by dragging its anchor on the seabed.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that this incident and other recent incidents in the Baltic Sea must be seen as part of a mixed strategy that threatens European countries.
“It is important that we gather here now to discuss how we can work together to ensure a safer Baltic Sea region,” Scholz said.
