NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte hosted the Baltic Sea Summit jointly with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, according to NATO’s official website.
At a meeting in Helsinki on Tuesday, Rutte announced a new NATO mission to reinforce critical infrastructure defences. Baltic Sentry is expected to boost the alliance’s military presence in the Baltic Sea and improve Allies’ ability to respond to the threat swiftly.
By working together with all Allies – we will do what it takes to ensure the safety and security not only of our critical infrastructure but of all that we hold dear.
The leaders discussed the growing threat to critical undersea infrastructure and signed a joint declaration. In November, two undersea fibre-optic communications cables in the Baltic Sea, including one connecting Finland and Germany, were severed, forcing Europe to take urgent action.
The mission will deploy frigates and maritime patrol aircraft. The Secretary General also announced the deployment of new technologies, including a modest fleet of naval drones. He emphasised that NATO would work with allies to integrate national surveillance assets.
The alliance will operate the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Network to explore further ways to protect infrastructure and increase the resilience of undersea assets. Rutte also praised Finland’s efforts in tough enforcement.
Ship captains must understand that potential threats to our infrastructure will have consequences, including possible boarding, impounding, and arrest.
