Finnish minister warns of escalating risks in Baltic waters
Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen 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.
Finnish Defence Minister, Antti Hakkanen, during the opening of the national defence course in Helsinki, highlighted the growing risk of military conflict in the Baltic Sea.
He emphasised that, although conflict is not inevitable, the situation requires the implementation of credible defence and security measures.
Serious threats to critical infrastructure
Hakkanen noted that the safety of critical maritime infrastructure is increasingly under threat. Additionally, the risk of environmental damage associated with the ageing Russian fleet's shadow tankers travelling along Baltic routes is growing.
He mentioned incidents involving damage to underwater cables in the Gulf of Finland, for which the tanker Eagle S is suspected. Finnish authorities have imposed a navigation ban on the vessel due to technical malfunctions.
From mid-2023 to the end of last year, underwater cables and the Balticconnector pipeline were damaged several times in the Baltic Sea. Hakkanen stressed that such events are rare, but their impacts can be extensive.
