•Vilnius Calls for Stronger Military Posture as Infrastructure Incidents Raise Tensions
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has called on NATO and the European Union to strengthen their military presence in the Baltic Sea, citing growing security concerns over recent incidents involving damage to undersea cables.
Speaking in an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, Nausėda urged the Western alliance to take a firmer stance in the region, stating it was time for NATO to “show some muscle.”
Security Concerns Over Maritime Incidents
The Lithuanian leader’s appeal comes in response to a series of incidents affecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
Since October 2023, at least 11 cases of undersea cable damage have been recorded, raising alarms about the vulnerability of key communication and energy networks.
The latest incident, reported last weekend, involved damage to a fiber-optic cable linking Lithuania to Sweden’s Gotland Island, which officials claim was likely caused by an external factor.
Neighboring Latvia has also reported similar issues. In response to one such event, Sweden detained a vessel suspected of involvement in what it described as “aggravated sabotage.”
Separately, Norway briefly detained another ship with a Russian crew, suggesting a possible link to the incident. However, the ship was later released without charges.
Despite the suspicions surrounding these incidents, The Washington Post, citing Western intelligence sources, suggested that the damage was likely due to maritime accidents caused by poorly maintained ships and inexperienced crews rather than deliberate sabotage.
NATO’s Response and Regional Tensions
NATO has been stepping up its presence in the Baltic region, citing the need to protect critical infrastructure.
In January, the alliance launched Operation Baltic Sentry, deploying warships, aircraft, and naval drones to enhance surveillance and deterrence in the area.
The move follows a series of military exercises near Russia’s borders, including Exercise Pikne (‘Lightning’), a major war drill conducted in northern Estonia in December 2023, involving troops from Estonia, Latvia, the US, UK, and France.
Despite these deployments, Nausėda insists that more must be done. “NATO and the EU should take more responsibility in surveying the Baltic Sea, bringing additional maritime capabilities to prevent such incidents in the future,” he stated, emphasizing the long-term security risks posed by Russia.
“You can never feel safe living in this part of the world because we have this neighbor, and we will still have it after one hundred or two hundred years,” he added, alluding to Moscow’s continued influence in the region.
Moscow’s Response and Rising Geopolitical Risks
Russia, meanwhile, has strongly denied any involvement in attacks on Baltic Sea infrastructure and has dismissed Western concerns as unfounded.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko warned last week that Moscow would not allow NATO to dominate the Baltic Sea, stating, “We will do everything necessary to make sure that our interests… in the Baltic Sea region are reliably protected.”
Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it has no intention of attacking any NATO member but has also warned that increased militarization of the region could lead to heightened tensions and potential conflict.
The Kremlin has cautioned that any direct confrontation between NATO and Russia risks escalating into a nuclear standoff.
A Baltic Security Flashpoint?
The Baltic region has become a focal point of geopolitical tensions between Russia and NATO, with both sides viewing security in the area as a strategic priority.
As concerns over infrastructure vulnerabilities persist, Lithuania’s calls for a stronger NATO presence highlight the deepening divide between Moscow and the West.
Whether NATO expands its military footprint further or pursues alternative security measures remains to be seen, but the region is likely to remain a flashpoint in the ongoing power struggle between Russia and the Western alliance.
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