nato's baltic operation thwarts suspicious ship maneuvers

Belgian commander of the NATO ship group, Commander Erik Kockx, reported in Stockholm on Tuesday that since January, when the "Baltic Sentry" operation began, there have been no incidents such as undersea cable breakage. However, suspicious manoeuvres of merchant ships have been noticed.

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Kockx emphasised that when NATO ships approached suspicious units, their crews immediately stopped performing strange manoeuvres and continued their journey. The commander noted that it is difficult to prove whether such actions might be an attempt at sabotage.

On Tuesday, a group of NATO ships, including minehunters from Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Estonia, set sail from the Frihamnen port in Stockholm. Ships from Norway and Germany are also participating in the mission. A Polish officer is on board one of the ships.

The units participating in the "Baltic Sentry" operation are also involved in neutralising sunken bombs from World War I and II. Commander of the Swedish minehunter Ulvön, Mathias Hagberg, reported that nine explosives have been neutralised in the Gulf of Riga.

Ammunition from the sea floor can pose a threat if caught by fishing nets or washed ashore.

Commander Kockx stated that he will command the NATO ship group until June, after which the Latvians will take over the command. The "Baltic Sentry" operation also includes air force surveillance, coast guard patrols, and activities by the police and other services in the region. Military analysis of ship traffic is aided by artificial intelligence.

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