On December 25, 2024, the Estlink 2 submarine cable connecting Estonia and Finland was damaged. It is just one of a series of damage to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea that has intensified NATO’s focus on hybrid threats – particularly to underwater infrastructure – against allies in Denmark’s vicinity.
That is why NATO is now implementing the Baltic Sentry activity, which aims to tighten surveillance of – and if necessary protect – areas with underwater critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
In support of the effort, Denmark is stepping up its surveillance of the waters around Denmark, including the western part of the Baltic Sea. The Danish Armed Forces will support Baltic Sentry with aircraft, ships and other relevant capabilities during the period. The surveillance task is coordinated by the National Maritime Operations Center in Karup.
Monitoring 365 days a year
The surveillance of the Danish areas of interest is already close and intense. This includes, among other things, coastal radars that monitor the waters around the clock, and maritime response units (Denmark Navy Diana-class ships), which are constantly on the water to patrol the waters. All Danish Navy units that are on the water also participate in the surveillance of the waters, just as the Danish Navy and the Danish Air Force are continuously deployed with their capabilities.
The Great Belt, the Sound and the Kattegat are highly trafficked sea areas. Every year, 3-400,000 large and small ships pass through Danish waters. Therefore, maritime surveillance is a high priority for the Danish Armed Forces and a task that is already carried out 24/7, 365 days a year. The Danish Armed Forces units thus have extensive experience in identifying ships with behavior that deviates from the normal picture and may therefore appear suspicious.
Increased water surveillance
Baltic Sentry is a supplement to the surveillance that Denmark and our allied neighbors already carry out as part of normal maritime surveillance.
In connection with Baltic Sentry, the Danish Armed Forces’ capacity for maritime surveillance will be strengthened. At sea, some of the Danish Navy’s ships will take turns contributing as extra capacity during the period. At the same time, a number of Danish Air Force capabilities will be deployed on an ongoing basis.
Through enhanced surveillance in and around Denmark, the Danish Armed Forces contribute to strengthening NATO’s common situational picture across the entire Baltic Sea region. In doing so, the Danish Armed Forces help ensure that NATO is ready to document and take resolute action against threats to critical infrastructure, the environment and maritime safety.
The increased NATO presence in the Baltic Sea region began in January and will continue for an extended period.