Tensions in the Baltic Sea have escalated after a Russian warship fired warning shots at a German military helicopter during a routine reconnaissance mission. The incident, confirmed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, has prompted Germany to increase surveillance of critical infrastructure in the region.
Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels, Baerbock did not provide specific details about the encounter. However,she emphasized the growing threat of hybrid warfare tactics employed by Russia and its allies. “Putin is attacking our peace order with hybrid attacks,” she wrote on social media platform X.
The use of signaling ammunition, while permitted in emergencies, is considered a serious escalation. German press reports indicate the Russian vessel fired the shots at the Bundeswehr helicopter while it was conducting surveillance operations.
This incident comes amid heightened concerns over the security of vital undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Last month, two sets of communication cables linking Finland and Germany, and Sweden and Lithuania, were severed in separate incidents within a short span of time.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius labeled the damage to the cable connecting Germany and Finland an act of “sabotage,” suggesting the involvement of “hybrid actors.” While the motive behind the attacks remains unclear, investigations are underway in Sweden, Germany, and Lithuania.
The Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3, which was in the vicinity of the damaged cables at the time, has become a focus of thes investigations.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, several European governments and NATO officials have accused Moscow of intensifying hybrid attacks against Western nations. Russia has consistently denied any involvement in such activities.
Hybrid warfare encompasses a range of tactics designed to destabilize nations without resorting to direct military confrontation. These tactics often include cyberattacks, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and disinformation campaigns.
In response to the escalating threats, Germany is bolstering its surveillance efforts in the Baltic Sea, focusing on pipelines and data cables crucial to regional security and economic stability.
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