German pilots under fire: Russian flare attack in Baltic standoff
German pilots patrolling the Baltic Sea were attacked by the crew of a Russian ship. The attack involved the use of a flare directed at the Bundeswehr aircraft, which could have had serious consequences for the air patrol.
4 December 2024 16:09
The incident was reported by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during a NATO meeting in Brussels. This situation highlights the significant tension in diplomatic relations and the heated situation between the parties.
The Foreign Minister did not disclose details of the incident with the Russian ship. However, she announced that pipeline and cable inspections in the Baltic Sea will continue, even if they encounter hostile reactions from the Russians.
Incidents in the Baltic Sea: Hostile actions and sabotage
Enhancing the protection of infrastructure in the Baltic region is a response to repeated acts of sabotage. Baerbock listed examples of cable damage and GPS interference.
In November alone, two fibre optic cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea. One connects Sweden with Lithuania, and the other Finland with Germany.
Swedish authorities are conducting an investigation, considering these actions as sabotage. The crew of the Chinese ship "Yi Peng 3" is suspected of carrying out these acts. Similar incidents happened last year, including damage to a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia.
These incidents were addressed by participants of the Nordic and Baltic NB8 summit. The meeting of representatives from Nordic countries—Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland—and Baltic countries—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—was attended last week by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The Polish Prime Minister proposed the creation of a joint Baltic Sea patrol mission, referred to as "navy policing." - Together with the Nordic and Baltic countries, we face the same threat and offer the same solution, he stated.
Joint patrols in the Baltic Sea will be able to prevent not only sabotage actions that lead to the destruction of Baltic infrastructure. The problem in this area also includes the increased presence of ships trying to evade sanctions imposed on Russia following its aggression against Ukraine.
Source: rp.pl
