AI tech guards Baltic Sea cables amid rising tensions
Northern European countries, part of the Joint Expeditionary Force, have enhanced the protection of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. Artificial intelligence is being used to monitor the Russian fleet.
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which comprises the forces of 10 Northern European countries, has implemented measures to bolster the protection of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. They are deploying modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, to oversee the Russian 'shadow fleet' activities. The governments of the United Kingdom and Sweden provided this information.
The British AI-based tool, 'Nordic Warden,' gathers data from various sources and analyses the positions of suspicious ships in real time over extensive maritime areas. This system assesses the risk of incidents and aims to guard against sabotage and carelessness.
"Nordic Warden" helps protect us from sabotage and extreme carelessness, emphasised John Healey, the UK Defence Minister, the country leading the JEF, as quoted by the Polish Press Agency.
Monitoring is conducted from the JEF headquarters in Northwood, near London. In case of danger, warnings are sent to JEF patrols and NATO countries. System tests were conducted in the summer of 2024.
See also: A seven-year-old dies after a tragic accident on the track. Tragedy in the Netherlands
International cooperation in the Baltic Sea
The Swedish government reminded that the countries part of the JEF, such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, have decided to enhance the monitoring of the Baltic Sea for the second time in history. The first joint patrols, consisting of 20 warships, were deployed in the autumn of 2023 as a clear deterrent signal to Russia.
Incidents related to the damage of communication cables between the Baltic countries increase the need for effective monitoring. Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski highlights the ongoing risk of attacks on critical infrastructure, necessitating international cooperation. The Polish Navy is actively engaged in these efforts, collaborating with partners from the EU and NATO.
Last year, the C-Lion1 cable between Finland and Germany and a cable operated by Telia Lietuva between Sweden and Lithuania were damaged. Investigators are examining whether sabotage occurred in both cases.
Source: PAP
