Rüdiger Strempel reflects on Finland’s special connection with HELCOM and the organisation’s regional efforts to protect the Baltic Sea

The Finnish Navy will enhance its presence and surveillance in the Baltic Sea by deploying a Hamina-class missile boat, according to the Finnish Navy statement. The deployment of Finnish ships is part of NATO’s Baltic Sentry operation,

Lithuania's president says his country has made the decision to raise its spending on defense to between 5% and 6% of overall national economic output starting in 2026.

"Ukraine is fighting to defend not only its independence and peaceful future, but also the jointly agreed security order based on international law. As the previous Chairpersonships, Finland will keep support for Ukraine at the heart of the OSCE’s work," she noted.

NATO is deploying eyes in the sky and on the Baltic Sea to protect cables and pipelines that stitch together the nine countries with shores on Baltic waters.

The saying "it is very difficult to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if it is not there" is probably known to everyone. Although it seems that only the first part of this phrase has reached some Baltic countries.

Denmark’s prime minister is on a tour of major European capitals as the continent faces what she called “a more uncertain reality” and her country moves to strengthen its military presence around Greenland.

Russia and China are suspected of targeting these key data channels.

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. Moscow will not allow NATO to turn the Baltic Sea into its own lake, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

General Martin Herem, former head of Estonia’s defence forces, has speculated that NATO could blockade the Baltic. However, given that this would amount to a declaration of war, NATO has opted for a less confrontational approach: surveillance.

Ruptures of undersea cables that have rattled European security officials in recent months were likely the result of maritime accidents rather than Russian sabotage, according to several US and European intelligence officials.