Shipping firms may soon face fees to navigate the Baltic Sea, a vital shipping route, to fund the protection of undersea cables. This follows a series of suspected sabotage incidents, with NATO deploying forces to safeguard the region’s infrastructure.
Shipping companies may soon face a fee to navigate the Baltic Sea, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, to cover the growing costs of protecting undersea cables, as highlighted by Estonia's defence minister on Wednesday. The proposal follows a series of breaches, which have raised concerns over the security of vital power and communications infrastructure.
NATO recently announced the deployment of frigates, patrol aircraft, and drones to monitor the Baltic after several incidents where ships have caused damage to cables with their anchors, suspected to be acts of sabotage. Alongside these patrols, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur discussed the possibility of additional measures, such as installing sensors to detect anchor movements or constructing protective barriers around the cables.
These protective measures, however, will incur substantial costs, with the potential for consumers to bear the financial burden through increased taxes or utility costs. Pevkur proposed a solution that would involve charging vessels passing through the Baltic Sea, particularly in areas like the Danish Straits, to help fund the protection efforts. He compared this potential fee to airport landing charges included in ticket prices.
With around 150 undersea cables damaged globally each year, the Baltic Sea is particularly vulnerable due to its dense maritime traffic, with estimates suggesting as many as 4000 ships cross the region daily. The situation has been exacerbated by recent incidents, including the seizure of a Maltese-flagged vessel by Swedish authorities in connection with damage to a cable linking Latvia and Sweden.
Pevkur suggested that the incidents may be the result of coordinated actions by vessels linked to Russia’s "shadow fleet", although official investigations are still ongoing. Moscow has dismissed these claims, accusing Western nations of making unfounded accusations. As discussions continue, countries must find a collective solution to safeguard the region’s undersea cables and maintain maritime security.
Web Summit Qatar 2026 opened in Doha on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands of founders, investors, policymakers and technology leaders to what organise...
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 Feb...
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections w...
Kazakhstan’s Reform Commission has published a draft of a new Constitution that would mark the most extensive revision of the country’s law since ...
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating...
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that the Baltic Sea is increasingly turning into an arena of confrontation with Russia, urging European allies to strengthen their defence readiness.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea, officials said, as NATO’s eastern members heighten vigilance against potential airspace incursions.
NATO has announced reinforcements to its Baltic Sea mission, including an air-defence frigate, after unidentified drones entered Danish airspace near key sites.
The United Nations Security Council is due to meet on Monday over Estonia's accusation that Russian fighter jets violated its airspace at the weekend, diplomats said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any U.S. military attack on Iran would spark a wider regional conflict, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
U.S. president Donald Trump said Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States and expressed hope that negotiations could lead to an outcome acceptable to Washington.
The Kremlin has confirmed that the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will be held in Abu Dhabi on 4–5 February, after the meeting was postponed last week to align the schedules of all delegations.
Hungary has vowed legal action against the European Union over a planned ban on Russian gas imports by 2027, after Brussels said national objections would not override EU law.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of authorising intelligence operations aimed at eliminating “undesirable leaders” in Africa, claiming that Paris is pursuing a political comeback after losing ground in several former colonies.
Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar are trying to organise a meeting in Ankara between White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and top Iranian officials, according to reports in the U.S. and Turkish media.
German authorities have arrested five people suspected of running a criminal network to circumvent European Union sanctions by exporting goods to at least 24 sanctioned Russian defence companies, the federal prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment