The President of Estonia approved a law that allows the sinking of suspicious ships

Estonian President Alar Karis signed the law on amendments to the legislation on the organization of the Defense Forces and the economic zone. From now on, the Estonian Defense Forces have the right to use force against suspicious vessels that may pose a threat to the country’s maritime infrastructure, including the possibility of sinking them if necessary. informs HONOR.

These amendments are intended to strengthen the protection of shipping in Estonian waters and to respond to increased sabotage activity, in particular damage to submarine cables.

“The defense forces may stop, divert or force a civilian watercraft or other civilian vessel in the maritime zone of Estonia to leave the internal and territorial waters of Estonia. If it is impossible to repel the threat with other measures or to do so in a timely manner, sink it.” – says the document.

Also, the innovations allow the Estonian Armed Forces to turn to allies for help in case of limited own capabilities. The relevant legislative changes were approved by the Estonian Parliament last Wednesday. 62 deputies voted in favor, there were no abstentions and no votes against. The total number of deputies in the parliament is 101.

The draft law was initiated by the government against the background of a series of incidents in the Baltic Sea related to the damage of marine cables and other infrastructure facilities by merchant vessels.