Repeated incidents involving Russian ships near key submarine cables in the Baltic Sea are prompting Germany to sound the alarm. New European sanctions against Moscow’s “ghost fleet” are under consideration, amid growing fears for the region’s critical infrastructure…
This is a real headache that is increasingly worrying European authorities. For several months, Russian ships have been regularly spotted near important submarine cables in the Baltic Sea, raising concerns about possible acts of sabotage. For Germany, these repeated incidents constitute a “alarm signal” requiring a firm response from the European Union.
Disturbing incidents near strategic cables
According to a source close to the matter, no less than half a dozen incidents involving Russian ships have been recorded in recent months near vital submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. The latest event was on Christmas Day, whena major electricity cable connecting Finland and Estonia has been damagedleading to a breakdown. Suspicion quickly fell on a Russian tanker spotted in the area, which has since been boarded by the Finnish coast guard.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. According to European officials, ships from the Russian “ghost fleet”, specialized in circumventing sanctions, are increasing their suspicious comings and goings along the region’s main energy and communications cables. “Ships drag their anchors for kilometers along the seabed, for no apparent reason”alarms German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Berlin pushes for new European sanctions
Faced with what she considers “a major threat to security and the environment”Germany is calling for tougher European sanctions against the Russian ghost fleet. Berlin sees this not only as a way to protect critical infrastructure, but also to dry up a source of financing for the war waged by the Kremlin in Ukraine.
The European Union seems to have heard the message. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that new restrictive measures targeting Russian ships were under consideration. Around fifty additional tankers could thus be placed on the EU blacklist in the coming weeks.
NATO is also looking into the issue of “hybrid threats”
Beyond sanctions, the whole question of protecting strategic infrastructure is being raised. NATO recently established a working group dedicated to “hybrid threats” facing the Baltic Sea region. The objective: to better coordinate the efforts of neighboring countries to secure this vital maritime space, through which significant energy flows pass.
It is essential to strengthen our resilience in the face of acts of sabotage and intimidation. This requires better surveillance, increased intelligence sharing, but also reinforced protection measures for our critical infrastructure.
A NATO official
Because beyond the threat to submarine cables, it is Europe’s entire energy security architecture that could be targeted. The recent sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea has shown the vulnerability of these installations to determined attacks. A warning that the Europeans this time seem determined to take very seriously, by tightening the screws on the Russian ghost fleet.
While tensions remain high with Moscow and the war rages in Ukraine, securing the Baltic Sea promises to be one of the major strategic challenges of the coming months. Faced with an adversary who does not hesitate to play on the gray zone and hybrid threats, Europe is looking for a solution. And be careful not to navigate these troubled waters by sight.
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