Rising tensions: Finland warns of Baltic Sea conflict risks
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen warns of the growing risk of military conflict in the Baltic Sea. He argues that although conflict is not inevitable, threats to maritime infrastructure and the environment are increasing.
During the opening of the national defense course in Helsinki, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen highlighted the heightened risk of military conflict in the Baltic Sea.
He emphasized that while conflict is not inevitable, the situation calls for the implementation of credible defense and security measures.
Serious threats to critical infrastructure
Häkkänen noted that the safety of critical maritime infrastructure is increasingly threatened. Additionally, he pointed out the growing risk of environmental damage linked to the movement of aging shadow tankers from the Russian fleet on Baltic routes.
He mentioned incidents involving damage to underwater cables in the Gulf of Finland, for which the tanker Eagle S is suspected. Finnish authorities have banned the vessel from navigation due to technical malfunctions.
From mid-2023 to the end of last year, underwater cables and the Balticconnector pipeline suffered several instances of damage in the Baltic Sea. Häkkänen stressed that while such events are rare, their impacts can be significant.
