Latvia supports increased NATO presence in Baltic Sea - defense minister

RIGA - Latvia supports NATO's increased presence in the Baltic Sea, as well as the Latvian National Armed Forces have increased monitoring of Latvia's critical underwater infrastructure and are exchanging information with allies, Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) told LETA through his adviser Rojs Dauburs.

NATO's response to the infrastructure damage incident in the Baltic Sea has been swift, demonstrating unequivocal support and solidarity. Responding to calls by the leaders of Finland and Estonia, the NATO Secretary General announced that NATO would increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea. At the same time, NATO is holding discussions among allies to respond as effectively as possible to incidents of this kind, the minister said.

The security of underwater infrastructure is important for the security, economy and social well-being of the Baltic Sea region. Latvia supports an increased NATO presence in the Baltic Sea, and the Latvian National Armed Forces have increased monitoring of Latvia's critical underwater infrastructure and are exchanging information with allies, Spruds said.

"Attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, as well as other malicious activities in the territories of NATO member states, are a matter of concern for NATO member states. The protection of underwater infrastructure is also one of the elements tested in NATO military exercises," Spruds emphasized.

To support Allied Maritime Command, the Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure was established under its authority. The center coordinates monitoring and action against hybrid threats in support of NATO and its allies and to strengthen resilience, Spruds reminded.

As reported, since Russia's re-invasion of Ukraine, undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea has been damaged several times over the past three years.

Two communication cables were damaged in Swedish territorial waters on November 17-18 last year. The C-Lion-1 communication cable between Finland and Germany and the Arelion telecommunications cable connecting Sweden and Lithuania were damaged in the Swedish economic zone. The involvement of the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 in damaging the cables is suspected.

NATO has agreed to increase its presence in the Baltic Sea following the damage to the EstLink 2 undersea electricity cable linking Finland and Estonia, the latest cable and pipeline damage in the region caused by ships with links to Russia and China.

The European Union said it was stepping up measures to protect the undersea cables by improving information sharing and using new technologies to detect damage and expand repair options.

If Finland or Estonia invokes NATO's Article 4, which commits member states to consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the member state is threatened, Latvia will support them, President Edgars Rinkevics said earlier.