A French naval patrol plane recently conducted a surveillance mission over the Baltic Sea, aimed at monitoring Russian naval activity amid heightened tensions. Equipped solely with surveillance technology, the Atlantique 2 aircraft sought to assert presence amidst threats, including Russian attempts to jam its GPS systems. Authorities are particularly concerned about recent incidents involving commercial ships damaging crucial undersea infrastructure, suspected acts of sabotage attributed to Russia. This surveillance operation underscores the rising concerns over military maneuvers and potential aggressions in the militarized waters of the Baltic.
The French naval patrol plane descended rapidly through the clouds, leveling off at 900 feet above the Baltic Sea, practically skimming the waves.
We are to show that we are here, said Romain, a lieutenant commander and a member of the plane's crew. Never fully tranquil, the Baltic Sea, with a coastline heavily militarized by Northern European and Russian navies, has become an increasingly tense theater.
Three times over the past year and a half, commercial ships are suspected of having damaged critical undersea communications cables and a gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
European officials fear that these were acts of sabotage, with the Kremlin viewed as the primary suspect, though finding hard evidence has proved difficult.
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