NATO strengthens presence in the Baltic Sea: reason named.

NATO has started patrolling the Baltic Sea as part of the Baltic Guard program after damage to underwater communication infrastructure. The flagship frigate Tromp of the Dutch Navy has anchored in the Mine Harbor of Tallinn, along with the German minesweeper Datteln and the hydrographic vessel Luymes with a mixed Dutch-Belgian crew.

The number of ships involved in the patrolling will depend on the situation. A crucial role is assigned to the cooperation between the military forces of Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. These countries have already developed a joint action plan to combat attacks on underwater infrastructure and are prepared to 'respond decisively' to such incidents.

Damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea

The Finnish police discovered damage on the floor of the Baltic Sea extending for tens of kilometers. It is preliminarily believed that a tanker transporting Russian oil damaged a power line and four telecommunications cables with its anchor. Restoring the EstLink 2 energy cable connecting Estonia and Finland will take several years.