The Estonian Navy has declared its readiness to take tough measures against vessels that pose a threat to the Baltic Sea's critical infrastructure, even if they are in international waters. Deputy Commander of the Estonian Navy Johan-Elias Seljamaa stressed that his country no longer intends to tolerate possible incidents involving damage to underwater communications and is ready to act decisively.

"If we receive information that a vessel poses a danger to underwater infrastructure, such as energy cables or pipelines, we will be forced to intervene, regardless of where the vessel is," — Selyamaa said.

The move comes in response to the increasing number of damages to vital communications in the region. In December 2024, the EstLink 2 power line connecting Finland and Estonia was damaged, causing a partial power outage. An investigation revealed that the Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S was likely involved in the incident. Finnish police believe that the ship's anchor hit an underwater cable, causing a major power outage.

In response to this and other incidents, the Estonian government has reviewed the powers of the Navy. The parliamentary committee supported amendments to the legislation that significantly expand the Navy's capabilities to protect underwater infrastructure. Now, Estonian warships have the right to use force not only in territorial waters, but also in Estonia's exclusive economic zone and, if necessary, in international waters.

The Estonian Navy currently has 10 ships, including three former British Sandown-class minesweepers, which were transferred to the country in 2023, two patrol boats and four patrol ships. The largest vessel in the fleet is the patrol vessel and oil skimmer Kindral Kurvits with a displacement of 1053 tons.

One of the key threats in the region remains the sabotage of underwater communications - energy and telecommunications cables, which play a critical role in ensuring the stability and security of the Baltic region countries. Underwater cables provide data transmission and energy supply between countries, and any damage to them can lead to serious economic and social consequences.

At a special session of the parliament, Estonian Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta stressed that international maritime law requires updating to provide clear mechanisms for punishment for damage to underwater infrastructure.