Increasing Patrols in the Baltic After Undersea Infrastructure Damage, NATO Deploys Warships, AWACS and Drones

Three ships are part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1, USS Normandy (CG-60), HNLMS Evertsen (F805), and HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355). (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vincent J. Street)

JAKARTA - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is increasing patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to underwater infrastructure in the region, the military alliance said on Thursday.

"Enhanced measures include additional surveillance and reconnaissance flights, including with maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS aircraft and drones. Four NATO minesweeper fleets were also sent to the area," NATO said in a statement, reported by Reuters, October 20.

The move follows authorities' announcement of damage to the Baltic Sea telecommunications cable connecting Sweden and Estonia, as well as the Finland-Estonia pipe and cable at around the same time earlier this month.

Officials from the countries involved said they had not yet reached firm conclusions about who caused the damage, or whether it was unintentional or intentional.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely, remaining in close contact with our Allies Estonia and Finland, as well as our partner Sweden," said NATO spokesman Dylan White.

"NATO will continue to adjust its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary steps to maintain Allied security," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said the deployment of these forces shows that NATO allies are alert and ready to act.

"The decision does not mean an increase in military threats. On the contrary, it shows that relations between strong Allies and NATO as a whole view the protection of critical infrastructure as an important issue," he explained.

An estimated two of the four minesweepers are expected to visit Tallinn on Friday.

NATO, the European Union and national governments have made protecting undersea pipelines and cables a top priority, since an explosion in September 2022 damaged the Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea and cut off Russian gas supplies to Europe.

It is known that investigators said the explosions were an act of sabotage, but have not decided who was responsible.