During the summit in Helsinki, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced plans to enhance maritime presence and monitoring in the region.

Germany has downplayed the immediate risk of sabotage to undersea data cables but recognizes that damages could lead to increased latency and reduced bandwidth.

In November, a Chinese vessel, the 'Yi Peng 3', was suspected of causing damage to cables, although it left international waters before a thorough investigation could be conducted.

This initiative is seen as ambitious yet overdue, with recognition that Wladimir Putin's hybrid warfare tactics have often been underestimated.

Rutte emphasized that NATO's adversaries must understand that attacks on critical infrastructure will not be tolerated, and the alliance is prepared to take necessary actions.

While Russia was not explicitly named in the final declaration, there is a consensus among the participants that Russian activities are behind the recent sabotage incidents.

These practices are viewed as a significant means of financing Russia's illegal war against Ukraine, prompting NATO countries to take decisive steps to address these threats.

NATO is intensifying its response to recent sabotage incidents in the Baltic Sea, focusing on the protection of critical infrastructure from the so-called Russian shadow fleet.

The summit, hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, includes leaders from Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden.

The environmental risks posed by the shadow fleet are significant, as many of these aging vessels are poorly maintained, raising concerns about potential oil spills.

Experts warn that simultaneous sabotage efforts could result in severe economic and physical devastation in Western Europe, impacting the power grid and energy prices.

The leaders at the summit condemned acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure and committed to a robust response to any future attacks.