Nato announces new mission to protect undersea cables in Baltic Sea region

Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced on Tuesday that the alliance is launching a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva/AP)

Nato is launching a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region after a string of incidents that have heightened fears of Russian sabotage and spying in the strategic region, the alliance’s leader said on Tuesday.

Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the mission, dubbed Baltic Sentry, will include frigates, maritime patrol aircraft and a fleet of naval drones to provide “enhanced surveillance and deterrence”.