During the last government meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, December 31, Tusk highlighted the damage to the Estlink-2 electricity cable on December 25, caused by a Russian vessel's anchor dragging across the seabed, as a major security concern.
In PM Tusk's opinion, recent incidents involving Russian and Chinese ships and damage to undersea installations in the Baltic Sea have raised significant security concerns for all countries in the region.
As a result, Tusk proposed increasing the military presence of local NATO allies in the Baltic, similar to the protection of airspace. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte agreed to take immediate action on this proposal.
Donald Tusk emphasized that these efforts are part of a broader initiative to ensure Poland's security and stability amid growing geopolitical challenges.
Tusk proposes increased NATO presence in the Baltic Sea amid growing security concerns
"Poland's voice is beginning to influence concrete decisions. After the initial incidents in the Baltic, the strange events involving Russian and Chinese ships, and the disruption of various underwater installations in the Baltic, which greatly concerned all the countries bordering the Baltic, we proposed that the Baltic Sea become an area of enhanced military control by NATO and the countries bordering the Baltic, similar to the protection of our airspace," said the Prime Minister.
"Two days ago, I received a message from the NATO Secretary General that we will urgently work on a project for enhanced military control to ensure a secure Baltic. This is a very important signal for us, but it is, of course, just one element of a larger project for a safe and peaceful Poland," the head of the Polish government emphasized.
NATO to strengthen military control in the Baltic following recent incidents
Worries over the safety of the Baltic Sea have intensified following damage to critical infrastructure and foreign vessels' proximity to sensitive sites, prompting calls for a stronger NATO presence.
On December 27, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that the Alliance would bolster its military presence in the region, which is vital for trade and security, especially in light of ongoing Russian actions and suspected damage to undersea cables.
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