National Defence Committee: Forceful measures are needed to protect the Baltic Sea underwater infrastructure

According to the Statement of the National Defence Committee, a pattern of physical hybrid attacks against the Baltic Sea underwater infrastructure has emerged, which poses a threat to NATO and the European Union. The Committee pointed out that this was a deliberate, repeated and intentional act. “We must immediately take forceful measures together with the Allies, to whom we will propose to place the Baltic Sea under 24-hour surveillance, in particular in those areas where critical underwater infrastructure is located. We will not tolerate any damaging of underwater infrastructure with impunity,” the National Defence Committee said in its Statement today.

The Committee believes that, similarly to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, a permanent naval force in the Baltic Sea, one of the key tasks of which is the protection of underwater infrastructure, must be more effectively enforced. “Estonia’s decision to deploy a naval patrol vessel to protect the operational power link Estlink 1, to complement Finland’s commendably swift and effective response, is a step in the right direction, but allied efforts need to be on a much larger scale,” said the National Defence Committee, according to whom this would ensure both an increase in deterrence and a rapid response capability. “No marine vessel suspected of terrorism against infrastructure should be allowed to leave before post-crime procedures have been completed.”

The Commission added that the Baltic Sea is first and foremost the home territory of NATO and the Member States of the European Union. “International law is on our side and we have sufficient capabilities for protecting ourselves,” the National Defence Committee said in the Statement.

At the extraordinary sitting of the National Defence Committee today, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Kaimo Kuusk and National Security and Defence Coordination Director of the Government Office Erkki Tori gave the members of the Committee an overview of Russia’s hybrid attacks.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: National Defence Committee: Forceful measures are needed to protect the Baltic Sea underwater infrastructure

Source: Parliament of Estonia