Estonia Launches Naval Operation to Protect Cables

In response to recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, Estonia's armed forces have initiated a naval operation to protect the Estlink 1 power cable, following the seizure of the ship Eagle S by Finland, suspected of causing the Estlink 2 outage. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized the need for a robust response to threats against critical infrastructure, highlighting the necessity of cooperation with NATO allies for enhanced security measures. Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that an emergency government meeting was convened to address the situation and praised Finland's swift action in detaining the suspicious vessel. The Estonian Defense Minister expressed readiness to utilize military means to safeguard electricity connections with Finland. Ongoing discussions with NATO are focused on securing the region's critical infrastructure and increasing monitoring efforts. The situation underscores rising concerns over potential sabotage following a series of outages since the start of the Ukraine conflict.