NATO Plans Baltic Sea Reinforcement After Cable Sabotage

NATO has announced plans to bolster its military presence in the Baltic Sea following the suspected sabotage of the Estlink 2 undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia. This move comes in response to several recent incidents involving the damaging of critical infrastructure in the region, which officials suspect may be linked to Russia. The oil tanker Eagle S, part of Russia's 'shadow fleet', is suspected of causing the cable damage by dragging its anchor. In response, Estonia has begun naval patrols to protect their energy connections, while NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed solidarity and support for Finland's investigation. Estonia and Finland, both NATO members, are considering invoking Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, seeking further reinforcement to deter future threats. These incidents underscore the heightened security concerns in the Baltic region since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.