NATO Launches Operation Baltic Sentry to Safeguard Critical Infrastructure

What Happened?

NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte just posted on X:

‘Today, I announced the launch of #NATO's new military activity “Baltic Sentry” under Supreme Allied Commander General Chris Cavoli. This activity is part of our ongoing effort to enhance maritime presence and monitoring of key areas for our Alliance.’

Mr. Rutte went on to say the new operation will involve a range of assets including frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, remotely operated vehicles and a small fleet of naval drones.

The overall objective will be to enhance NATO’s vigilance in the Baltic. 

Why it Matters

Operation Baltic Sentry has been formulated and launched as a response to Russia activities in the Baltic region.

According to Ellen Francis of the Washington Post:

‘Leaders of Baltic nations, along with Rutte and other European officials, met in Helsinki on Tuesday to agree on ways to boost security, after Finland in late December seized an oil tanker that was suspected of severing a power cable connecting the country to Estonia. That December incident, in which damage was also reported to four telecoms cables, added to mounting European fears of sabotage after a string of murky disruptions, as NATO officials accuse Russia of a growing campaign against NATO countries over their military support for Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow.’

Russia has denied involvement in the cutting of undersea cables, and some new NATO members voiced caution about assigning blame without proof.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said ‘it is totally unacceptable that these damages seem to have been increasing in numbers recently, but we don’t accuse anybody for anything so far. We don’t do that easily without very firm proof.’

As Andrius Sytas of Reuters reported:

‘Vessels of Russia's so-called shadow tanker fleet will be boarded or put on a sanctions list if they do not provide proof of insurance, Estonia's prime minister said on Tuesday. “Shadow fleet” refers to vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains around in violation of international sanctions imposed on it over the Ukraine war. The vessels are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers.’

The new NATO operation will provide additional security for critical infrastructure in the Baltic region such as undersea cables, but could further sour relations between NATO member countries and Russia. 

How it Affects You

NATO member countries and Russia are already at odds over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The longer that conflict goes on the greater the chances it could spread to eastern Europe.

So far Russia has downplayed accusations of malicious activity in the Baltic.

One possible reason for the casual response from Moscow is that Russian authorities have long expected NATO to step up its naval and aerial activity in the Baltic region because they are operating a shadow fleet.