NATO strengthens Baltic Sea operations after cable damage
NATO ships and aircraft have responded to the damage of an underwater cable in the Baltic Sea, announced NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) spokesperson, Arlo Abrahamson.
Abrahamson stated that NATO ships and planes responded to the events in the Baltic Sea, which occurred on Sunday morning. An underwater fiber optic cable between the western coast of Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland was damaged.
Abrahamson reported that allied ships and aircraft are "operating alongside regional allies to respond and investigate" cable damage.
Operation "Baltic Guard"
MARCOM is the central command of all NATO naval forces, located in Northwood, United Kingdom. NATO Allied Command Operations (ACO), responsible for planning and executing all Alliance operations, is currently conducting Operation "Baltic Guard" in the Baltic Sea to deter any attempts to damage critical underwater infrastructure.
Although the operation is a new initiative, NATO forces maintain a constant presence in the Baltic Sea, conducting regular patrols and joint exercises. Warships, submarines, and planes, supported by advanced maritime surveillance technology, monitor the waters throughout the region.
NATO countries are increasingly threatened by hybrid attacks, including submarine cable sabotage. NATO is currently developing a new strategy to protect critical seabed infrastructure.
The investigation of the damage and a new lead
Latvian and Swedish authorities are conducting an investigation into the damage to the fiber optic cable between Latvia and Sweden. The malfunction did not significantly impact data transmission.
On Monday, the owner of the Bulgarian shipping company Navigation Maritime Bulgare admitted that a Bulgarian ship, Vezhen, flying the Maltese flag, may have been responsible for the cable damage. The owner explained that due to strong winds, the vessel dropped anchor, which could have damaged the cable.
The Swedish newspaper "Expressen" reported that the ship was seized by Swedish authorities. The Bulgarians assure that the malfunction was not caused by "malicious intent." Photos published by the newspaper show that the vessel has one of the anchors damaged. The container ship was reportedly sailing from a Russian port.
