Russia warns of NATO's intention to turn the Baltic Sea into its "own lake"

(Dan Tri) - Russia announced that it will find every way to protect its interests when NATO seeks to turn the Baltic Sea into the alliance's "backyard".

Russia's small missile ship Sovetsk during naval exercises in the Baltic Sea (Photo: Sputnik).

"This is an attempt to turn the Baltic Sea into a NATO lake, restrict freedom of navigation and put compliance with Western sanctions against our country under strict NATO control," Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin told Tass news agency, commenting on the decision of NATO member states to patrol the Baltic Sea with warships and aircraft.

"Russia will do everything to protect its interests by relying on international law. Our opponents should not have any illusions on this issue," the Russian diplomat warned.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the alliance will conduct patrols in the Baltic Sea to protect the undersea infrastructure of member countries, with the participation of warships and aircraft. He did not give details on the number of warships and aircraft participating in this activity.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko said in January that Moscow would do everything necessary to protect its interests in the Baltic Sea amid increased NATO activity in the region.

In mid-January, NATO announced the launch of the Baltic Sentry mission, which is intended to patrol the Baltic Sea after key submarine cables were damaged in the region last year.

According to Deputy Minister Grushko, the "dream" of turning the Baltic Sea into a "lake" of the US-led military bloc will not come true, because "Russia will not allow this" to happen.

“We will do everything necessary to ensure that our interests in the Baltic Sea region are reliably protected,” the Russian diplomat said, clarifying that he was talking about the military aspect.

He said specific Russian countermeasures would be determined based on the activities of NATO and individual members in the region.

"Russia wants the Baltic Sea to be a sea of ​​cooperation, a sea of ​​exchange, a sea where trade is carried out through shipping routes that have been operating for centuries," the Russian diplomat stressed.

Map of the Baltic Sea region (Photo: Wikipedia).

Last year, Nikolay Patrushev, former head of Russia's Security Council and now an aide to President Vladimir Putin, warned that "the West is trying to deprive Russia of access to the Baltic Sea." According to Patrushev, NATO's newest members - Sweden and Finland - are being used to turn the Baltic Sea into a "lake" of the bloc.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-canh-bao-y-do-cua-nato-bien-bien-baltic-thanh-ao-nha-20250202151059634.htm