Denmark's contribution to a major NATO operation in the Baltic Sea will include both ships and fighter aircraft as well as special operations forces. This is what the Ministry of Defence informs Ritzau.
The Danish side will carry out "increased surveillance of and presence in Danish waters and straits as well as in the western part of the Baltic Sea to support the operation", it says, among other things.
- The increased surveillance will be carried out with, among other things, aircraft and ships through periodic deployment and in ongoing coordination with NATO and Baltic allies. The operation may include, among other things, a frigate, an inspection ship, fighter aircraft, surveillance aircraft and special operations forces, the Ministry of Defence writes in a written comment.
The purpose of the operation is, among other things, to protect critical infrastructure such as pipelines and cables on the seabed. In addition, Denmark must ensure an even greater overview of the security situation around the country, says Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen (V) to Ritzau afterwards.
- We will strengthen our presence in our straits and internal waters with both stronger support from ships and the air force. Our increased presence is about getting a better snapshot of the situation in and around Danish waters, he continues.
No announcement on time horizon
The Minister of Defense will not report how long the effort will last.
Swedish and Finnish media were able to report on the effort in early January, but it has so far been unknown how and with what Denmark is contributing.
Sweden's Ministry of Defense confirmed that the country was participating in the NATO effort as early as January 12. Finland officially confirmed on Wednesday. And now Denmark has come on the scene.
The intensified efforts come because critical infrastructure such as electricity and gas cables on the Baltic Sea seabed have recently been subjected to repeated sabotage. As recently as December, underwater electricity and data cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged.
At the end of December, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wrote on the social media X that NATO would increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea. At the time, however, it was not clear how the defense alliance would do this in more detail.
On January 8, the Finnish media Yle wrote that NATO would send approximately ten ships to the Baltic Sea, and that the operation is expected to continue until April.
/ritzau/
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