The warning of the Foreign Minister of Germany: “Russia threatens us all in the Baltic Sea”

“In the region of the Baltic Sea, Russia threatens us all, “said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeph, who announced an intensification of supervision, following the alleged sabotage acts of the so-called ghost fleet on cables and pipes in the Baltic, according to Agerpres.

“We, as neighbors, NATO and the EU, counteract hybrid threats with all our powers, including through additional patrols. (…) In the Baltic Sea region, Russia threatens us all,” Wadeph told Welt AM Sonntag.

The ghost fleet refers to oil and other freight vessels that Russia uses to avoid sanctions, especially for oil transport. In recent months, there have been numerous assuming acts of sabotage of the ghost fleet on the cables and pipes in the Baltic Sea. Since then, the underwater infrastructure has been monitored more carefully.

Wadeph has warned that threat has become more serious in recent months.

“The sectioned cables, the interrupted signals and the suspicious ships cause us great concern,” he said, describing the ghost fleet as an absolute security risk.

The EU will impose new direct sanctions on these ships, he added. “This also helps Ukraine, because the ghost fleet transports oil every day, which Russia sells bypassing sanctions.”

On Tuesday, May 20, the EU's foreign ministers are to adopt the 17th pack of sanctions against Russia. This includes an additional tightening of measures against the Russian ghost fleet for oil and petroleum products. According to Latvian Baiba Braze Foreign Minister, about 84% of Russia's crude oil exports go through the Baltic Sea with the help of this ghost fleet, which represents more than one third of Russia's budgetary revenues.

On Friday, the Council of States of the Baltic Sea, a body representing the democratic states of the Baltic Sea, called for new maritime transport rules that will allow a stronger common action against the Ghost fleet of Russia.