In the first discussion between the NATO allies, the suspected damage to the gas pipeline is considered serious.
The leak of the Balticconnector gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland and the suspected sabotage will also be dealt with by NATO.
The suspected damage to the pipeline is the first time that Finland’s sovereignty has been violated during Finland’s NATO membership.
According to ‘s information, already on Tuesday the ambassadors of the NATO countries discussed the matter in the NATO Council. Ambassadors’ discussions are not public. Diplomatic sources are very silent about the recent event. A diplomatic source heard by says that the matter has been taken seriously.
According to ‘s information, both Finland and Estonia plan to raise the issue at the NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday. Finland is represented at the meeting by the Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen (collect.). Defense ministers of the NATO countries are also informed about what is known about the incident.
President Sauli Niinistö said that he had discussed the matter with the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg with on Tuesday, and Stoltenberg said on X, the former Twitter, that NATO supports Finland and Estonia.
A possible attack on the gas pipeline and data transmission cable in the Gulf of Finland has damaged critical infrastructure. It can be considered a hybrid operation. It means that the act damages society or its structures, but is not a traditional military strike.
Intelligence and patrolling at sea
In NATO, allies negotiate if any party feels its security is threatened.
Others can support the country affected by hybrid influence. There is still no estimate of what Finland or Estonia might want from others.
The matter has already been discussed in the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
Finland and Estonia can receive various types of support and assistance: the allies can share intelligence information and support in forming a situational picture. Maritime presence, for example patrolling at sea, can also be done together.
In the spring, NATO established a unit that coordinates the protection of critical undersea structures. The purpose is to protect military and civilian targets better than before. The need for protection was awakened after the explosion of the Nordstream pipe that happened a little over a year ago.
The protection of objects has already been increased. A large number of data cables and energy run under the sea.
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