NATO increases Baltic Sea presence

NATO has chosen to strengthen its presence in the Baltic Sea after undersea infrastructure was damaged in the area, NATO said on its website on Thursday. The measures include increased surveillance, NATO added. Additional aircraft, drones and 4 demining vessels will be deployed. “We continue to monitor the situation closely, and we remain in close contact with our allies Estonia and Finland, and our partner Sweden. NATO will continue to adapt its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary steps to keep allies safe,” NATO spokesman Dylan White said in the announcement.
      NATO says in its communique that allies are stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the region. The Alliance said that it has already enhanced patrols in the Baltic following the Nord Stream sabotage in September 2022 in order to be able to ’detect any suspicious activity’. ”Earlier this year, NATO created an undersea infrastructure coordination cell to deepen ties between governments, military, industry actors and NATO, and has since established the NATO Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure within NATO’s Maritime Command,” the alliance communique said. /ritzau/