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.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was st...
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European ...
Russia’s first State Duma election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine is testing the country’s political system as voters c...
Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, as attacks by the Iran-aligned group deepen regional tensions.
Russian air strikes injured 13 and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and in the Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early hours of Thursday, officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the war against Iran was nearing its end and that Tehran wanted to reach a deal, but Iran dismissed his comments as “mixed signals” as the conflict approaches its seventh month.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia’s first State Duma election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine is testing the country’s political system as voters choose a new parliament amid wartime and economic pressures.
From Russia’s parliamentary election and Germany’s regional votes to the U.S. midterms, several major elections are taking place in September and November of 2026. Meanwhile, Sweden has already voted, with parties now negotiating to form a new government.
Pakistan has described the situation around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as “exceptionally serious”, calling for dialogue and diplomacy as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify.
Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are taking “concrete steps” to make a recently signed joint defence pact operational, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment