NATO launches Baltic Sentry to guard undersea infrastructure

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Operation Baltic Sentry at a summit of Baltic Sea allies in Helsinki on 15 January, USNI News reports. The mission adds frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, naval drones, submarines and satellites to protect undersea cables and pipelines, with the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp leading a standing NATO group. In a joint statement the allies said Russia's use of a so-called shadow fleet threatens maritime and environmental security, and reserved the right under international law to act against suspected vessels that evade sanctions.

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