NATO Increases Baltic Sea Security Amid Sabotage

In response to recent sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, NATO is set to enhance its military presence in the region, with a meeting scheduled in Helsinki to discuss security measures. The incidents, widely attributed to a Russian 'shadow fleet', have resulted in severed telecom and power cables, prompting calls for increased monitoring of maritime activities. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed that Sweden will contribute three warships to the NATO operation, emphasizing the need to secure critical underwater infrastructure. Finnish officials suspect the Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker 'Eagle S' may have intentionally caused some of the damage, which has raised concerns about hybrid warfare tactics. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reiterated that such hostile actions will not go unanswered, as the alliance aims to bolster deterrence against future incidents. The military buildup will involve up to ten warships and increased surveillance operations in the area.