Germany's top naval officer has warned that Russia is creating an imminent threat in the Baltic Sea, with increasingly hostile military actions serving as a prelude to potential escalation. Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, head of the German navy, said Russian warships and NATO forces encounter each other daily, raising the risk of an incident.
"We see each other at sea every day. Things can happen there, by chance or by design: carelessness, a misfired shot," he told The Times. "So the expectation is high that a possible escalation will occur in the maritime domain. We have to prepare the men and women for that."
The admiral dismissed the notion that the Baltic Sea has become a "NATO lake" following Sweden and Finland's accession, pointing to Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad and St Petersburg. "This is not a NATO lake and it never will be for as long as the Russians have Kaliningrad and St Petersburg," he said. "The Baltic Sea is very narrow, which means we face a rapid threat."
Kaack also highlighted the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet, suggesting Moscow may arm these vessels to continue exporting goods. He noted that the sound of a dragging anchor is unmistakable, contradicting claims that crews could be unaware of damage to undersea cables and pipelines.
The warning comes as German police investigate sabotage at naval facilities, including the discovery of steel pellets in a corvette's engine and fuel caps removed from tanks. NATO has expressed growing concern over Russian drone incursions and potential testing of Article 5 mutual defence commitments.
