New NATO Baltic Sentry Initiative Will Use Drone Fleet To Boost CUI Security
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NATO has announced the launch of Baltic Sentry, a new bid to boost protection of Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI) backed in part by a fleet of naval drones.
At today’s (Tuesday's) NATO Summit of Baltic Sea Allies in Helsinki, Secretary General Mark Rutte revealed the new initiative, which as per a press statement “will enhance NATO’s military presence in the Baltic Sea and improve allies’ ability to respond to destabilizing acts.”
Mr Rutte said recent “sabotage” had damaged energy and communication cables, but he was confident that the combined efforts of allied forces could “ensure the safety and security not only of our critical infrastructure but of all that we hold dear.”
As per the statement, Baltic Sentry will combine existing surface and subsea assets and maritime patrol aircraft with a range of new technologies “including a small fleet of naval drones.”
The release also explicitly stated that NATO will work with allies to integrate their national surveillance assets.
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The Baltic Sentry initiative follows hot on the heels of the permanent launching of Nordic Warden by the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) — ten north-European NATO allies led by the U.K.
Nordic Warden uses AI to assess data from various sources, including the Automatic Identification System (AIS) ships use to broadcast their position, to calculate the risk posed by each vessel. The system sends out alerts to JEF and NATO allies if it calculates there is a potential risk to CUI.
“Baltic Sentry will deliver focused deterrence throughout the Baltic Sea and counter destabilizing acts like those observed last month,” said U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
“It is indicative of the Alliance’s ability to rapidly respond to such destabilization, and shows the strength of our unity in the face of any challenge.”
Allied Command Operations (ACO), which is responsible for the planning and execution of all NATO operations, will run Baltic Sentry within the explicit aim of deterring “any future attempts by a state or non-state actor to damage critical undersea infrastructure there,” as per a Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) press statement.
It said Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) will lead ‘Baltic Sentry’ for ACO, and synchronize its multi-domain activities, with Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) playing a central role via its NATO Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Underwater Infrastructure (NMCSCUI).
A joint statement issued on behalf of the Baltic Sea NATO Allies Summit observed: “We, the Heads of State or Government of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden, have met today in Helsinki, in the presence of the Secretary General of NATO and the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, to address the recent increase in serious incidents damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
“We are deeply concerned by actions, be they negligent or malicious, which cause damage to or threaten the functioning of critical undersea infrastructure. We strongly condemn acts of sabotage to critical undersea infrastructure.
“We are determined to deter, detect and counter any attempts at sabotage. Any attack against our infrastructure will be met with a robust and determined response. We stand ready to attribute hostile actions committed by malign actors, as appropriate.”
It also condemned the actions of Russia’s “shadow fleet” for posing a particular risk to security in the Baltic Sea region and supporting its war against Ukraine.
It pledged: “We will also take actions for accountability and stronger enforcement against those responsible for damaging undersea infrastructure, including compensation for damage.”
- You can read more details on the NATO website, the SHAPE website, and the website of the President of Finland.