To combat Russia’s sanctions-evading “shadow fleet,” Sweden will strengthen its verification of foreign vessels’ insurance status starting July 1st. This expanded scrutiny, encompassing ships transiting Swedish waters and not just those docking, will involve the Coast Guard and Maritime Administration. The initiative aims to deter the use of uninsured, poorly maintained ships and provide data for further sanctions enforcement. Swedish officials believe this heightened monitoring will disrupt the shadow fleet’s operations and improve Baltic Sea security.
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Polish military forces responded to a sanctioned Russian “shadow fleet” ship exhibiting suspicious behavior near a crucial Poland-Sweden power cable. The ship, identified as the Antigua-flagged tanker *Sun*, was forced away by Polish naval and air patrols, ultimately returning to a Russian port. This incident, highlighting increased security concerns in the Baltic Sea following similar attacks on infrastructure, prompted assurances of a firm response from Poland and NATO to any further threats. The power cable remains operational, transmitting over 600 megawatts to Sweden at the time of the incident.
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Norway’s recent seizure of a Russian-crewed ship suspected of severing an undersea cable highlights a growing concern regarding escalating acts of apparent sabotage in the Baltic Sea. The incident underscores a pattern of disruptive actions, raising questions about Russia’s motives and the international community’s response.
The immediate impact of such cable damage is significant, causing expensive and time-consuming repairs to critical infrastructure. Beyond the immediate disruption, however, lies a potential for wider destabilization. The cutting of undersea cables could be used to disrupt defensive postures, manipulate stock markets, or sow general chaos and uncertainty.
The act itself is arguably a form of aggression, a calculated disruption designed to create problems, both materially and psychologically.… Continue reading
In response to heightened security concerns in the Baltic Sea, Sweden will contribute naval assets to a NATO operation focused on protecting underwater infrastructure. This contribution includes up to three warships, an ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, and four coast guard vessels, with additional support on standby. This marks Sweden’s first contribution of armed forces to NATO since joining the alliance in March. The deployment follows a series of incidents involving damaged undersea cables and pipelines in the region.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood