NATO Expands Operation in the Baltic Sea Due to Drones

NATO has announced that it will strengthen its mission in the Baltic Sea. The alliance has 'increased vigilance' in the Baltic states. NATO will deploy an air defense frigate, as well as reconnaissance and surveillance assets, due to the intrusions of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into Danish airspace, according to Reuters.

Initially, the 'Baltic Guardian' mission was launched to protect the underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This was in response to the frequent incidents of damage to communication cables and pipelines that run across the seabed. In January, allied countries deployed frigates, patrol aircraft, and maritime drones. It is not specified which countries will provide additional military forces.

A few days ago, unidentified drones were spotted over Danish airports, including Aalborg, Esbjerg, and Sønderborg, as well as at the Skrydstrup airbase. These unidentified UAVs were flying over Danish military facilities, including Karup Air Base, as reported by The Guardian.

On September 12, NATO launched the 'Eastern Watch' operation to bolster positions on the eastern flank. The reason for its initiation, as stated by the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, was an incident involving drones in Poland.