Freezing Winds' drill was part of a push to step up the transatlantic defence alliance's protection of infrastructure in waters that carry 15% of global shipping traffic and are seen as increasingly vulnerable to attack.

STORY: Hours after two communication cables were severed in the Baltic Sea, one of northern Europe’s largest ever naval exercises got underway. 30 NATO vessels and 4,000 military staff took to the water for the 12-day 'Freezing Winds' drill.

The Baltic Sea, a hub for maritime trade and critical infrastructure, has become a growing point of concern. Recent incidents, such as damaged undersea cables and rising tensions, have brought its security into focus.

The Baltic Sea region has seen several cases of suspicious damage against underwater critical infrastructure since 2022, but authorities have been unable to find sufficient proof of deliberate malicious intent to press charges.