NATO's 'Baltic Sentry' operation eyes suspicious ship moves
Since January, NATO has been conducting the "Baltic Sentry" operation in the Baltic Sea, where suspicious maneuvers of merchant ships have been observed, although there have been no incidents of undersea cable breakage.
The Belgian commander of the NATO ship group, Commander Erik Kockx, reported in Stockholm on Tuesday that since January, when the "Baltic Sentry" operation began, there have been no incidents such as undersea cable breakage. However, suspicious maneuvers of merchant ships have been noticed.
Kockx emphasized that when NATO ships approached these suspicious units, their crews ceased performing strange maneuvers and continued on their journey. The commander noted that it is difficult to prove whether such actions might be attempts at sabotage.
On Tuesday, a group of NATO ships, including minehunters from Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Estonia, set sail from Frihamnen port in Stockholm. Ships from Norway and Germany are also participating in the mission, and a Polish officer is aboard one of the ships.
Neutralizing threats from the past
The units participating in the "Baltic Sentry" operation are also involved in neutralizing sunken bombs from World War I and II. The commander of the Swedish minehunter Ulvön, Mathias Hagberg, reported that nine explosives have been neutralized in the Gulf of Riga.
Ammunition on the sea floor can pose a threat if caught by fishing nets or washed ashore.
Commander Kockx stated that he will command the NATO ship group until June, after which the Latvians will take over. The "Baltic Sentry" operation also includes air force surveillance, coast guard patrols, and activities by the police and other services in the region. Military analysis of ship traffic is aided by artificial intelligence.
