Russian Mediterranean Sea Flotilla Shadowed by NATO Ally's Ships

The Dutch Navy shadowed a Russian flotilla through the North Sea over the weekend, the Netherlands' defense ministry has said.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

Why It Matters

NATO member states have expressed growing concerns over Russia's heightened activity in European waters, citing potential threats to critical infrastructure. Russia has been accused of engaging in suspicious maneuvers near key undersea communication cables, which are vital to global communication systems. Moscow has denied any involvement in potential sabotage efforts.

What To Know

In a press release on Sunday, the Netherlands' defense ministry announced that its Royal Navy had escorted a fleet of six Russian ships—comprising three naval vessels and three civilian ships—navigating through the Mediterranean Sea en route to a Russian port.

The Netherlands' defense ministry said the Russian vessels shadowed by its navy included the landing ships Aleksandr Otrakovskiy (Ropucha-class) and Ivan Gren (Ivan Gren-class), the supply ship Yelnya (Altay-class), the oil tanker General Skobelev, and the transport ships Sparta and Sparta II.

These vessels were guided through the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) before being handed over to other NATO allies, who continued monitoring their passage. The navy deployed the amphibious transport ship HNLMS. Johan de Witt for the operation, accompanied by the NH90 maritime helicopter, the ministry said.

The ministry said that while Russian vessels can legally travel through the EEZ, its navy accompanies Moscow's vessels so that it can intervene should they engage in suspicious activity,

What People Are Saying

The Netherlands Ministry of Defence said in a press release on Sunday: "Russian units frequently sail through the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone. An internationally agreed right of passage applies here. Nevertheless, the Netherlands accompanies these types of fleets. This is not only to be vigilant, but also to be able to intervene in suspicious actions or disruptions. In this way, defense protects the critical infrastructure under water."

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said in December: "Moscow is relocating resources from its Tartus base in Syria to Libya. This is not good. Russian ships and submarines in the Mediterranean are always concerning. It's even more alarming when they are just two steps away from us instead of a thousand kilometers away."

What Happens Next

Tensions between Russia and NATO will continue to be at a high amid Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged NATO member states to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank, European defense spending has surged by 11.7 percent in real terms, reaching $457 billion in 2024. This marks the tenth consecutive year of growth as geopolitical tensions rise.