Estonia calls for NATO to monitor Baltic sea infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns

Estonia has proposed a rotational system for NATO member states to monitor critical Baltic Sea infrastructure, akin to the alliance’s air policing mission. This call comes in response to recent suspected sabotage incidents involving undersea cables in the region.

As part of this effort, NATO announced that 12 ships will be deployed to the Baltic Sea until April. Estonia’s Minister of Defense, Hanno Pevkur, emphasized the importance of unified maritime defense among Baltic Sea nations.

“The Baltic Sea cannot be divided in terms of defense,” Pevkur stated during an interview with “Aktuaalne kaamera.” He added that Germany would initially take the lead in establishing a maritime operations center, with ongoing discussions about involving Sweden and Poland in a rotational leadership system.

Expanded Naval Authority and New Legislation

This week, Pevkur plans to introduce a bill granting the Estonian Navy enhanced authority to respond to suspected sabotage. Currently, the navy can act within territorial waters, but the proposed legislation would extend its powers to Estonia’s exclusive economic zone in international waters.

“This law will allow the navy to intervene in cases of deliberate acts against Estonia’s critical infrastructure. Cooperation with the Police and Border Guard Board, as well as foreign partners, will be essential,” Pevkur said.

The draft bill is nearly complete and is expected to be discussed in the government on Thursday, January 9. “The message is clear: any deliberate actions targeting Estonia’s infrastructure will be addressed decisively,” Pevkur affirmed.

Modernizing Estonia’s Naval Fleet

Former Navy Commander Jüri Saska highlighted the limitations of Estonia’s current naval fleet, which includes three minehunters, a single minelayer, and four patrol vessels lacking significant military capabilities.

Saska called for a systematic approach to modernizing the fleet, suggesting fewer but more versatile ship types to enhance efficiency and operational readiness.

“As threats to underwater infrastructure increase, Estonia must determine who is responsible for protecting pipelines and cables,” Saska said, noting that the navy appears to be the most suitable choice for this role.

Advancing Underwater Surveillance

The government is also focusing on improving underwater surveillance. Estonia has tested submarine drones from Dutch company Lobster Robotics, which use advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor undersea activities.

“These systems can detect unusual sounds, such as anchors being dropped, and relay signals to the Maritime Surveillance Operations Center for a prompt response,” Pevkur explained.

Rising Threats to Baltic Sea Infrastructure

Over the past 18 months, several pipelines and data cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged, often attributed to ships dragging their anchors. The most recent incident occurred on December 25.

Estonia’s push for a NATO-backed rotational monitoring system underscores the growing importance of safeguarding critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea amid escalating regional tensions.