**Overview of Sweden’s NATO Support in the Baltic Sea**
On January 12, the Swedish government announced its commitment to assist NATO in enhancing the alliance’s presence in the Baltic Sea. Sweden plans to provide up to three warships and additional defense equipment to help deter potential sabotage of undersea infrastructure.
**Swedish Military Contributions**
The Swedish military will also deploy one ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, manufactured by Saab. Additionally, the country’s coast guard will contribute four ships for patrolling the area, as noted in a government statement.
**Context and Background**
This move comes on the heels of NATO’s announcement made last month regarding its intent to bolster its naval capabilities in the Baltic Sea due to growing concerns about possible Russian activities in the region.
**Anticipated NATO Naval Deployments**
According to Finnish media reports, NATO is expected to send a maximum of ten warships to the region to better safeguard critical underwater infrastructure, which includes submarine cables and telecommunication lines.
**Estonian Navy’s Efforts**
The Estonian navy is currently leading patrols in the Gulf of Finland, maintaining nearly continuous surveillance in the area using various types of vessels, as viewed on the Marine Vessel Traffic tracking website.
**Recent Incidents and Concerns**
In December, there were suspicions of deliberate damage to the Estlink 2 submarine cable, connecting Finland and Estonia. Finnish authorities have taken custody of the oil tanker Eagle S, which is believed to be linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ and may have been involved in the cable rupture.
**Insights from the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies**
A recent report from the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies indicated that by mid-2024, over 70 percent of Russia’s embargoed oil and by-products would be transported through its clandestine ghost fleet. These vessels utilize advanced tactics to evade detection by disabling their automatic identification system transponders.
The CSIS report described this strategy as a new form of “gray zone warfare,” wherein Russia employs commercial vessels like tankers for sensitive military operations.
**Author Information**
Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo, the author of the report, is a Europe correspondent for Defense News, specializing in military procurement and international security, with a focus on aviation reporting. She is based in Milan, Italy.