The NATO will strengthen its presence in the Baltic Sea behind him alleged sabotage this week to a submarine electric cable and four Internet lines, while Estoniaalliance member, launched a naval operation to protect the underwater electrical cable Estlink 1, after Estlink 2 was damaged on Wednesday. Everything indicates that Russia would be behind what happened through what has been called a ““floats in the shadow” of old oil tankers.
The authorities of Finland captured a Russian oil tanker this Thursday under the suspicion that he was the one who caused the cut in the Estlink 2, that connects this country with Estonia, and on four fiber optic lines.
The Baltic Sea countries are on high alert for acts of sabotage after a series of cuts of electrical cables, telecommunications links and gas pipelines since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, although this underwater equipment is also subject to breakdowns and accidents.
“We have reached an agreement with Estonia and we have also communicated to the secretary general of NATO, Mark Ruttethat our desire is to have a stronger NATO presence,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb announced at a press conference.
Rutte said he had discussed the Finnish-led investigation with Stubb and expressed his support. “NATO will reinforce its military presence in the Baltic Sea“Rutte wrote on the social media platform X, without giving further details.
The power interruption about him Estlink 2, of 658 megawatts began at noon Wednesday, leaving only the Estlink 1, of 358 MW, in operation between both countries. For that reason, Estonia has mobilized its armed forces since it is the only communications cable free of sabotage and on which part of the electricity and Internet supply of the entire country depends.
“If there is a threat to critical underwater infrastructure in our region, there will also be a response,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, in a post on X.
Tsahkna stated on Thursday that the damage to underwater facilities in the region had become so frequent that it was difficult to believe that they were all caused by accidents.
The Swedish coast guard, for its part, reported in a statement that had intensified surveillance of maritime traffic to protect critical underwater facilities, deploying aircraft and ships while coordinating with the Swedish navy and other nations.
Likewise, the Lithuanian navy has increased surveillance and patrolling in the Baltic after the incident.
The Kremlin said that Finland’s capture of the ship transporting Russian oil was not of great concern to Moscow. Until now, Russia has always denied involvement in any of the infrastructure incidents in the Baltic.
‘A shadow fleet’
Finnish researchers believe that the seized shipa Cook Islands-registered vessel called the Eagle S, may have caused the cable cut Estlink 2 and the four Internet lines by dragging your anchor across the seabed.
The Finnish president defended the need to intercept the Eagle S to prevent further destruction. “If the ship had continued sailing with the anchor on the seabed, more damage would have occurred,” Stubb said.
The Finnish customs service suspects that this vessel is part of a “shadow fleet” of old oil tankers seeking to evade sanctions to the sale of Russian oil imposed by the invasion of Ukraine.
The Finnish Police reported this Friday that they were investigating the Eagle S for suspicions of “aggravated criminal damage” and that the crew members had been questioned. The Finnish border guard will assist in the investigation with inspections of the seabed.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Thursday that It is still too early to say whether Russia had played any role. in damage to the cable.
A repair that will take months
Grid operators Fingrid of Finland and Elering of Estonia hope thatue repair Estlink 2 take months, and is estimated to be back in service on August 1, 2025.
This Blackout could drive up electricity prices during winter monthsbut it will not prevent the planned abandonment in February of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the joint Soviet-era electricity grid with Russia and Belarus, Elering defended.
Two fiber optic cables owned by the Finnish operator Elisa that link Finland and Estonia they appeared brokenwhile a third link between the two countries, owned by the Chinese company Citic, was damaged. It is also believed that a fourth Internet cable, which runs between Finland and Germany and belongs to the Finnish group Cinia, was cut.
Meanwhile, the authorities swedish is carrying out an investigation into the breakage last month of two telecommunications cables from the Baltic Sea, in an incident that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assumes was caused by sabotage.
The Finnish Police also continue to investigate the damage caused last year to the Balticconnector gas pipeline, which links Finland and Estonia, as well as several telecommunications cables, and has claimed that they were likely caused by a ship dragging its anchor.
In 2022, the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany, which run along the seabed of the same waters, were blown up, in a case that is still being investigated for Germany.
Add Comment