Estonia may allow sinking ships that threaten submarine cables
The Estonian parliament is considering legislative changes that would allow the Defence Forces to use force against merchant ships if they are suspected of attempting to damage submarine cables or other critical maritime infrastructure.
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An exceptional measure in such cases may even be the sinking of a vessel if it does not comply with military orders.
According to ERR, the initiative stipulates that before the use of force, both diplomatic justification and the availability of all necessary means, such as armed vessels, an appropriate legal framework and international support, must be ensured. According to the former Commander of the Estonian Navy, Jüri Saski, the use of armed force in international waters requires the utmost precision in justification and implementation.
He also stressed that the sinking of a ship is possible only as a last resort - when the threat is real and the crew's actions pose a danger to human life or a risk of a major man-made disaster. Even then, the crew must be fully evacuated before the attack.
At the same time, Saska expressed doubts about the feasibility of the mechanism itself: according to him, if the crew has already been evacuated, the ship is unlikely to remain a threat, and its sinking may pose environmental risks and lack a clear strategic logic.
Source: ERR
