NATO members met on 30 December at NATO Headquarters in Brussels to consult on the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following damage to undersea cables connecting Estonia and Finland on 25 December.
The damage to the cables, currently under investigation by Finnish authorities, is among several recent occurrences in the Baltic Sea that are being examined for potential sabotage. In response to this incident, allied nations have expressed their unwavering support for Estonia and Finland. To ensure heightened vigilance, improve situational awareness, and prevent future incidents, NATO is augmenting its military presence in the Baltic Sea region.
Additionally, allies are exploring further actions to mitigate potential threats to vital undersea infrastructure, including collaboration with NATO’s Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure, which was established in May of this year.
In July, a project funded by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme (SPS) was launched with the aim of making the internet less vulnerable to disruption by rerouting the flow of information into space if undersea cables are attacked or accidentally severed.
