Estonian parlt committee chair: Russia testing the West with undersea sabotage

TALLINN - Chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament Marko Mihkelson views the destruction of Estlink 2 submarine cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia as yet another example of how Russia is testing Estonia and its allies.

"By sabotaging undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea using its shadow fleet, Russia is testing us and our allies, causing significant material damage with impunity. Considering this is the third act of sabotage in the past 14 months -- not an 'incident,' as some try to downplay it -- NATO allies should respond not only by supporting our investigation but with tangible countermeasures," Mihkelson wrote on social media.

The foreign affairs committee chairman said that Russia must feel the consequences of its actions. He asserted that now is the time to tighten sanctions on Russian oil, restrict the shadow fleet's free movement in the Baltic Sea and beyond, and establish a NATO naval patrol operation to protect undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

"It is also necessary to update international maritime law, as undersea infrastructure and sabotage against it were not common issues when these agreements were made," Mihkelson said. "The question is how states or private companies can protect their infrastructure in neutral, international waters in a way that ensures perpetrators do not escape accountability."