Stenbock House, 10 October 2023 –Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas convened a meeting tonight, immediately upon return to Estonia, to discuss incidents related to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and an undersea communications cable between Estonia and Finland. Briefings were provided by the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, the Military Intelligence Service and the Estonian Internal Security Service.
According to the Prime Minister, there is no threat to Estonia’s security of supply but both Estonia and Finland are taking these incidents very seriously and are doing everything possible to determine the circumstances. The supply of gas is ensured with Estonia’s own supply and via Latvia, while the malfunction of the undersea communication cable is not affecting any Internet services, Prime Minister added.
“I am in close contact with the Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and we discussed next steps during a phone call earlier today. The National Bureau of Investigation of Finland has launched a criminal investigation regarding possible sabotage of the Balticconnector gas pipeline as the leak is located in Finland’s exclusive economic zone. Estonia has also launched a criminal investigation regarding the malfunction of the communications cable,” said Kallas.
Both countries have informed NATO Allies and European Union Member States about the incidents. Prime Minister Kallas held phone calls with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “We discussed the need and opportunities to increase the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea,” Prime Minister added.
