The conference explored how to protect critical submarine infrastructure and prevent damage to it, and which rules of international maritime law would help to process and prosecute perpetrators of damage.
“To defend critical submarine infrastructure, we must increase international cooperation to respond together to threats to submarine infrastructure. While the freedom of navigation is one of the founding principles of international maritime law, its implementation needs to be balanced with the security interests of coastal states. Those using the freedom of navigation should not damage critical submarine infrastructure. We must also address the shadow fleet, which supports Russia’s war machine, threatens our critical infrastructure and poses a threat to the environment,” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in his video message.
“The use of the shadow fleet by Russia is criminal by nature. When it comes to Russia it is nothing new or surprising. However, the countermeasures that we, countries respecting the rule of law, have taken have been far from sufficient. The incidents that occurred on the Baltic Sea last year clearly demonstrate that the current deterrence is not working. In order to manage the hybrid threats caused by Russia on the Baltic Sea, we must act in line with clear principles and determination. For the democracies of the Baltic Sea, the key words in achieving this include agreement, cooperation and concrete steps. The legal framework must be effective,” Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta said.
State representatives, experts and academics from nearly 30 countries attended the conference.