Washington, 9 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Germany and five other NATO allies in the Baltic sea region plan to buy more sea mines together as a deterrent to Russia.

Sea mines are a "very effective way to deter an aggressor at sea and they are an extremely important capability in the face of Russian aggression," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.

Pistorius signed a declaration ahead of a NATO summit in Washington. Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland and Sweden are also part of the agreement to jointly procure and maintain sea mines in the region.

The Baltic Sea is assessed by NATO analysts as a potential conflict flashpoint with Russia and the alliance has stepped up its presence in the east after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Photo: MIA archive