On Friday, the removal of buoys along a waterway marking Russia’s international border with Estonia was condemned by the European Union and NATO.
“The removal of the buoys by Russia is completely unacceptable. The European Union is demanding an explanation from Russia regarding this action and is calling for the immediate return of the buoys,” stated Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative. This statement was made in response to Russia’s operation along the Narva River.
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Russian border guards took down 24 out of the 50 buoys that Estonia had placed on the 48-mile river to mark sailing routes along the international boundary with Russia.
Estonia, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), received support from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He assured Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas that the alliance stands united in solidarity with the nation, prepared to defend its sovereignty against any potential threats.
The Narva River, with its abundant water flow, gracefully meanders northward before finally reaching the Baltic Sea. It holds the distinguished title of being the largest river in Estonia in terms of discharge.
The border we have today was established in 1985.
Earlier this week, Russia made headlines when it unexpectedly announced its consideration of unilaterally redrawing its border in the Baltic Sea. The announcement created a stir, but shortly after, the post was mysteriously deleted, leaving many questions unanswered.
According to Borrell, this incident at the border is just one example of Russia’s broader pattern of engaging in hybrid actions, both on its maritime and land borders in the Baltic Sea region.
Russia proposed that the nautical charts used to establish the border are no longer in use.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed a composed and discerning response, stating in a statement released on Thursday.
The incident at the border is being treated as provocative. We will be reaching out to the Russian Federation through our border representatives and diplomatic channels to express our dissatisfaction with these actions. We will demand an explanation for the removal of the buoys and insist on their immediate return.
