Description: NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the operation “Baltic Sentry” to be launched soon which would enhance Europe and NATO’s maritime security in the Baltic Sea. The operation has been announced after several sabotage operations by Russia’s “shadow fleet” intensified in the last couple of months. The operation would undertake raised patrol levels, enhanced control measures and seizure of all suspected activities.
Impact: Russia’s sabotage activities through its shadow fleet of ships has significant impact in the war with Ukraine. NATO and EU countries should be expected to enlarge security measures on all operational levels since the shadow fleet not only supplies Russia with illicit finances through the illegal trade of crude oil but is also used as a proxy in their hybrid warfare attempts such as maritime sabotage. Russia is expected to modify its approach towards hybrid warfare methods while NATO and Europe are expected to introduce and launch an even greater number of operations such as Baltic Sentry.