Helsinki: NATO announced plans to enhance its presence in the Baltic Sea after the suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable and four internet cables earlier this week. Meanwhile, Estonia has initiated a naval operation to safeguard a parallel electricity link.
On Thursday, Finland seized a vessel transporting Russian oil, suspecting it of causing the Estlink 2 power cable outage connecting Finland and Estonia, along with disruptions to fiber optic lines. The following day, Finland sought assistance from the transatlantic military alliance.
NATO said it would boost its presence in the Baltic Sea as an oil tanker, suspected of sabotaging an undersea power cable and four internet cables, is anchored off Finland's coast, raising concerns among the Baltic nations https://t.co/surj14LFkK pic.twitter.com/j8aJVEr2ct
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 28, 2024
Heightened Security in the Baltic Region
The Baltic nations remain on high alert following repeated disruptions to power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated during a press conference, “We have agreed with Estonia, and we have also communicated to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, that our wish is to have a stronger NATO presence.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed via the platform X (formerly Twitter) that the alliance would “enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea.” However, no further details were provided.
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
Sweden’s coastguard has ramped up its surveillance of maritime traffic, deploying aircraft and vessels while collaborating with other nations. Meanwhile, Estonia’s navy is actively protecting the operational Estlink 1 power cable.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized on X, “If there is a threat to the critical undersea infrastructure in our region, there will also be a response.” He also highlighted the need to modernize outdated maritime laws to explicitly address such incidents.
Ongoing Investigations and Economic Impact
The Estlink 2 power cable outage began at midday on Wednesday, leaving only the 358 MW Estlink 1 operational. Grid operators estimate repairs could extend into August, impacting power availability and pricing in the Baltic region.
Finnish authorities suspect that the Cook Islands-registered vessel, Eagle S, may have caused the damage by dragging its anchor along the seabed. Images published by Finnish media showed the ship with one anchor deployed while the other anchor was missing.
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The ship is believed to be part of a “shadow fleet” allegedly used to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil. Finnish customs and police have launched investigations into the vessel for “aggravated criminal mischief,” questioning its crew.
MarineTraffic data indicates the ship is owned by UAE-based Caravella LLC FZ and managed by India’s Peninsular Maritime. Both entities have yet to respond to inquiries.
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Wider Implications
The incident will not delay the planned decoupling of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the Soviet-era power grid shared with Russia and Belarus, according to Estonian grid operator Elering. However, analysts predict higher electricity prices for Baltic countries in 2025 due to the outage, while Nordic region prices may decrease.
Swedish authorities continue to investigate last month’s telecom cable breaches, with a Chinese vessel implicated as a potential culprit. Finnish and Estonian police are also probing last year’s damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and telecom cables, where another Chinese ship was named as a suspect.
