EU and NATO countries must take appropriate action in response to incidents in the Baltic Sea if investigations indicate they are hybrid attacks, said Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė after meeting with her Latvian, Evika Siliņa and Estonian, Kristen Michal counterparts on Friday. The Prime Minister emphasised that the recent cable damage in the Baltic Sea underlined the importance of coordination among the Baltic Sea countries.
“We agreed that, in the face of intensifying hybrid aggression and kinetic attacks by unfriendly states in our region, we must stay calm but also remain alert and vigilant, ready for a firm joint response,” Šimonytė said at a press conference.
Lithuania, Sweden, and Finland have already launched preliminary investigations into these incidents.
“Depending on their results, the EU and NATO allies must respond appropriately to malicious acts by applying restrictive measures,” the Lithuanian Prime Minister highlighted.
Lithuania’s telecom company, Telia Lietuva, reported on Tuesday that one of the undersea communication cables between Sweden and Lithuania was damaged on Sunday morning. Stockholm officials confirmed this.
On the same day, Finland’s operator Cinia announced that a cable between Helsinki and the German port of Rostock had also been cut for unknown reasons. Lithuanian politicians suspect these incidents may be linked to Russian sabotage, as there has been a rise in hybrid attacks from Russia in recent months. Law enforcement in Lithuania is investigating over ten related incidents, according to Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė.
“Lithuania, Latvia Estonia, are always on the same page where it matters most. Today in Vilnius we focused on defence & security, unwavering support to Ukraine’s victory & euroatlantic integration, sanctions, countermeasures to russia’s hybrid aggression and sabotage, & joint Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian critical infrastructure projects. Thank you, dear @EvikaSilina & @KristenMichalPM , for our cooperation, and godspeed to Latvian taking over the presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers!” the Lithuanian Prime Minister posted on X after the meeting with her counterparts.
