German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has emphasized the importance of enhanced security measures in the Baltic Sea region during the announcement of upcoming visits to Estonia and Denmark. Wadephul stated that the security of the Baltic states is intrinsically linked to German security, noting a palpable sense of heightened threat within the region.
He detailed a pattern of destabilizing activities, citing the presence of a Russian “shadow fleet” instances of severed undersea cables, the repositioning of navigational buoys and disruptions to GPS signals – characterizing these as examples of Russia’s hybrid aggression tactics. Wadephul acknowledged the foresight of Estonia and other Baltic states in consistently warning about these dangers.
The Minister expressed the European Union and NATO are currently benefitting from the expertise of these nations and intends to strengthen collaborative efforts further. He highlighted that securing critical infrastructure in both the Baltic and North Seas remains a key priority, an issue Denmark is actively advancing during its current presidency of the EU Council.
Wadephul underscored the vital role secure trade routes, reliable energy supplies and dependable data lines play for all of Europe, emphasizing that shared benefits require collective security. He also pointed to the importance of societal exchange, citing joint German-Danish initiatives aimed at reducing bureaucracy and streamlining administrative processes as examples of fostering closer ties between citizens on both sides of the border – areas he aims to build upon during his visits.