NATO Leaders Meet in Helsinki on Baltic Security

NATO leaders from Baltic Sea countries convened in Helsinki to address growing security concerns following recent suspected sabotage of undersea cables, largely attributed to Russian operations using a so-called 'shadow fleet.' This meeting, co-hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, included discussions on enhancing military presence in the region and protecting critical underwater infrastructure. The discussions were prompted by incidents of damaged cables, including the Estlink 2 power cable, which was reportedly affected by the anchor of the oil tanker Eagle S, a vessel linked to Russia's shadow fleet. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for a robust response to such hostile actions and the importance of safeguarding against further threats. Experts noted the challenges of preventing sabotage in international waters and questioned whether current measures would suffice. Overall, the summit served as a signal to Russia regarding NATO and EU priorities in regional security.