Rutte spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb about cable damage and possible sabotage. “I expressed my full solidarity and support to him. NATO will strengthen its military presence in the Baltic Sea,” said the secretary in a post on the X network.
Finland has been a member of the Alliance since last year. It entered there in response to Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine.
Spoke w/ @alexstubb about the ongoing Finnish-led investigation into possible sabotage of undersea cables. I expressed my full solidarity and support. #NATO will enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea.
— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) December 27, 2024
The Estonians have already launched a naval operation in the area, the aim of which is to protect another EstLink 1 cable. “If there is a threat to the critical underwater infrastructure in our region, there will be a response,” said the head of Estonian diplomacy Tsahkna.
If there is a threat to the critical undersea infrastructure in our region, there will also be a response.
Estonian Defense Forces @Kaitsevagi have launched a naval operation to protect the EstLink 1 undersea cable.
https://t.co/xzjbAH8ISf— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) December 27, 2024
The cable was damaged this week. Because of this, the Finnish authorities seized the Russian tanker Eagle S, which sailed from Russia under the flag of the Cook Islands. The Finns subsequently sailed with the ship to Finnish territorial waters.
“We are investigating serious sabotage from our side,” said the head of Finland’s National Investigation Agency, Robin Lardot.
Finland seized the vessel’s cargo and said that the Eagle S belongs to the so-called shadow fleet of older tankers. Russia uses them only unofficially to circumvent Western sanctions on the export of its oil.
Finnish troops occupied the deck of the Russian tanker. He was detained for serious sabotage
Foreign
