RIGA - NATO needs to strengthen its presence in the Baltic Sea and tackle Russia's "shadow fleet", President Edgars Rinkevics said Tuesday while participating in the Baltic Sea NATO allies summit in Helsinki, Finland.
As the president's adviser Martins Dregeris told LETA, the Latvian president underlined that NATO and the European Union (EU) must use all available practical and legal means to bolster the security of the Baltic Sea and tackle Russia's "shadow fleet".
"In the existing situation, strict countermeasures are needed against the threat Russia is posing in the Baltic Sea. International law of the sea, including freedom of navigation, must be balanced with the right of coastal states to protect their infrastructure," the Latvian president said.
He also noted the importance of NATO and allied physical presence and patrols. Rinkevics noted that, in the face of Russia's increasingly aggressive activities, the presence of NATO forces and capabilities in the Baltic Sea should be strengthened in order to deter and contain Russia.
"Latvia welcomes NATO's decision to launch an operation in the Baltic Sea and will contribute to the NATO operation by providing a military patrol boat," the Latvian president said.
Rinkevics stressed the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet", given that these vessels not only cut cables, but are also used as reconnaissance platforms, contribute to Russia's income for its war against Ukraine and pose a threat to the environment.
"New technologies should also be used effectively, as the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is doing by using artificial intelligence solutions to monitor the Russian "shadow fleet"," Rinkevics said.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb hosted the summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries together with Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal.
The summit was attended by President Stubb, Prime Minister Michal and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte as well as Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen.
2025 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy Privacy Policy