STOCKHOLM — In a significant move to enhance NATO’s presence in the Baltic Sea, Sweden has announced it will deploy up to three warships as part of the alliance’s ongoing efforts to safeguard underwater infrastructure from potential sabotage. This decision was revealed by the government on Sunday.

In addition to the warships, the Swedish military is set to provide an ASC 890 surveillance aircraft to assist in monitoring the area. Moreover, the nation’s coast guard will contribute four ships for vigilance in the Baltic, with another seven vessels ready for deployment if necessary.

Sweden officially became NATO’s 32nd member in March, following its neighboring country Finland in joining the alliance after Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine. This marks a historic moment, as it will be the first occasion that Sweden, now a NATO ally, will provide armed forces for the alliance’s defense and deterrence initiatives.

This announcement comes amid rising alarms concerning possible Russian maneuvers in the Baltic, fueled by a series of recent incidents that have escalated security concerns in the area.

The Baltic Sea is a crucial link for many Nordic, Baltic, and central European nations, with numerous undersea cables and pipelines crucial for trade, energy security, and reducing reliance on Russian energy supplies. However, troubling reports have emerged, indicating that ten Baltic Sea cables have suffered damage this year, impacting countries including Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Lithuania. Notably, at least two of these incidents have been attributed to ships accused of dragging their anchors.

Addressing the situation at an annual security conference on Sunday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that while Sweden is not currently at war, it also cannot be considered a peaceful time, according to reports from the Swedish news agency TT.