In Brussels on February 6, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski proposed that captains of ships causing damage to underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, such as telecoms cables or pipelines, should face EU sanctions as a deterrent. Poland, currently holding the EU presidency, aims to include this suggestion in the forthcoming 16th sanctions package against Russia for its actions in Ukraine, a topic under deliberation by EU member states.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, incidents involving power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines being disrupted by ships anchoring and damaging seabed infrastructure have risen in the Baltic Sea region. Sikorski expressed frustration over these occurrences, particularly highlighting the use of older ships flying flags of convenience from tax havens that lack adequate insurance and accountability.
NATO has recently bolstered its presence in the Baltic Sea with frigates, aircraft, and naval drones to mitigate potential damage, often linked to ships with Russian or Chinese crews. Commenting on Russian and Chinese vessels appearing to surveil undersea infrastructure in the Baltics and the North Sea, Sikorski cautioned that these activities could foreshadow more serious developments.
Sikorski urged EU authorities to consider sanctioning ship crews to deter future incidents, noting that tracking crew movements through European ports could aid in holding them accountable. He emphasized that sanctioning individuals involved in such activities could serve as a preventive measure against similar actions in the future.