BSPC Working Group addresses naval defence, cyber deterrence and the potential of AI for securing vital maritime assets
The sixth and final meeting of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) Working Group on Energy Security, Self-sustainability, Resilience, and Connectivity (WG ESSRC) convened in Tallinn, Estonia, from 18-20 May 2025, drawing more than 30 participants from across the Baltic Sea region. Delegates from the Åland Islands, the Baltic Assembly, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hamburg, Latvia, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Schleswig-Holstein joined officials and experts to explore the possibilities for addressing digital vulnerabilities and strengthening energy resilience in the region.
Chair of the WG ESSRC, Mr Andris Kulbergs, expressed his sincere gratitude to all delegations, experts and the secretariat for their continued contributions to the WG. Reflecting on the substantial progress made since the Bergen meeting in March 2025, he underscored the present risks posed by cyber threats, stressing the need for swift, coordinated governmental responses. Emphasising the unity within the WG, he highlighted how this format has proven the ability of Baltic Sea countries to align on shared goals, exchange expertise and resources, as well as act collectively.
Spotlight on Maritime Security, Cyber Resilience and Digital Innovations
The participants engaged in a series of high-level site visits, including the e-Estonia Briefing Centre, Estonian Navy, CR14 and International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS):
- e-Estonia Briefing Centre: As a cornerstone of the digital leadership of Estonia, the e-Estonia Briefing Centre offers an immersive overview of how the country has become one of the most advanced digital societies in the world. Established in 2009 as an NGO, it is today part of Enterprise Estonia and plays an integral role in promoting the know-how and expertise in digital services.
Participants were introduced to the digital transformation journey of Estonia by Digital Transformation Adviser Ms Johanna-Kadri Kuusk, who highlighted how digital identity, e-governance and AI-driven solutions are enhancing national resilience, public services and infrastructure management. Estonia was the first country to introduce i-voting in 2005, which now accounts for more than half of all votes cast, offering a secure, cost-effective and flexible voting method. The visit demonstrated that digital success is built on a citizen-centric approach, strong public-private and academic partnerships and digital-minded leadership.
- Estonian Navy: The Estonian Navy protects the territorial waters of Estonia and, in case of crisis, defends harbour areas, sea lines of communication and by-sea approaches to the coastline. Ships of the Estonian Navy regularly participate in major international exercises and operations that are carried out in the Baltic and the North Sea.
Hosted at the Miinisadam naval base, the visit offered a comprehensive overview of the naval operations and defence responsibilities of Estonia. Deputy Commander Mr Johan-Elias Seljamaa emphasised that maritime surveillance is complicated by legal ambiguities, cross-border data sharing limitations and hybrid threats merging civilian and military interests. Improved coordination and clearer frameworks for information exchange are urgently needed, especially as the region continues to face evolving security threats.
- CR14: Foundation CR14, established by the Ministry of Defence of Estonia in 2021, is based on more than 10 years of military-grade cyber range experience. It offers cyber ranges, cyber exercise automation, a digital library and cybersecurity simulation tools, as well as solutions that allow for the simple and effective planning and implementation of cyber defence exercises and activities. More than 3500 cyber experts are trained within a year.
Head of International Relations of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) Ms Angelica Tikk presented the Centre’s mission to support NATO and its member nations with interdisciplinary expertise in cyber defence, spanning technology, strategy, operations and law. Established in 2008 following the 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia, the CCDCOE has since become a global leader in cyber resilience. Its flagship exercise, Locked Shields, is the world’s largest live-fire cyber defence drill. The work of the Centre highlights the importance of partnerships, national capability-building, and ensuring everyday cyber hygiene practices, such as two-factor authentication, as a first line of defence. Head of Marketing at CR14 Mr Martin Hanson briefed the participants about the work of CR14 and offered the participants the possibility to see the NATO Cyber Range – a platform and data centre enabling NATO to conduct its largest cyber defence exercises and training, such as the Cyber Coalition and the Coalition Warrior Interoperability exercise (CWIX).
- International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS): ICDS is the leading think-tank in Estonia, specialising in foreign policy, security and defence issues. Founded in 2006, it aims to be the regional knowledge hub of first choice for the security and defence communities of Estonia, its allies and partners.
The ICDS team of experts – Head of Studies Mr Tomas Jermalavičius, Head of Defence Policy & Strategy Programme Mr Tony Lawrence and Research Fellow Mr Henrik Praks – shared their analysis on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, regional naval cooperation and responses to hybrid attacks. Drawing on recent research, they addressed the evolving security environment in Europe, offering policy-oriented solutions for resilience and deterrence in the Baltic Sea region. The presentations highlighted the need for forward-looking cooperation to counter complex threats.
Energy Security, Maritime Resilience and Regional Preparedness in the Baltic Sea
Security and international relations expert Mr Raivo Vare outlined the growing vulnerabilities of Russia, highlighting its reliance on manipulated economic data, structural dependence on raw material exports and limited technological development. Additionally, Russia faces deepening demographic challenges, such as workforce shortages and a brain drain of educated professionals, all of which hinder its long-term economic stability and capacity for modernisation. Despite sanctions, Russia continues to fund its war effort through commodity exports, using mechanisms like the shadow fleet to bypass restrictions, posing both geopolitical and environmental risks.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Estonia and former Ambassador to Ukraine Mr Kaimo Kuusk shared first-hand insights on the energy resilience of Ukraine during wartime. Drawing from his experience in Kyiv, he described how Russia deliberately targeted critical energy infrastructure while avoiding nuclear plants. He emphasised the importance of resilience and rapid repair capacity, noting that Ukraine’s ability to quickly restore power was vital to maintaining basic services. Critical infrastructure must be designed with redundancy in mind and protected through both physical defences and cyber preparedness. His core lesson was that, to ensure the survival of energy systems, countries must not only defend against attacks but also be ready to rebuild and adapt quickly under pressure.
Director General of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Ms Kristi Land emphasised the critical importance of protecting underwater maritime infrastructure within the framework of international maritime law, particularly UNCLOS, which serves as the foundational legal instrument for the seas. While recent incidents have sparked calls to amend UNCLOS, she noted that reopening or amending this nearly universal treaty is impractical due to the complexity and length of negotiations involved. Instead, she advocates for focusing on clearer interpretations and harmonised implementation of existing UNCLOS provisions, alongside improving national laws to criminalise damage to underwater infrastructure, as well as developing non-binding regional codes of practice.
Chairman of the Board at Eesti Energia Mr Andrus Durejko reflected on the lessons learned from the recent desynchronization of the Baltic States from the BRELL energy system, emphasising the importance of regional cooperation and forward-thinking. He stressed that small nations cannot afford to act in isolation – coordinated planning, unified decision-making and fair cost-sharing principles are essential. Highlighting Eesti Energia’s role as a vertically integrated energy provider with a focus on cleaner production, he underlined the need to strengthen collective resilience in the evolving regional energy landscape.
Lastly, Senior Researcher at Tallinn University of Technology Dr Tarmo Korõtko explored the transformative role of digitalisation and AI in enhancing energy security. As energy systems become increasingly complex due to rising global demand and the integration of variable renewables, traditional engineering methods are no longer sufficient. AI offers powerful tools for managing this complexity by processing multidimensional data to improve stability, reliability and efficiency. However, challenges remain, including data integration, system transparency and scalability. Thus, AI should not be seen as a solution in itself, but as a vital enabler for achieving energy resilience, self-sustainability and improved system performance.
Looking Ahead
Chairman Mr Andris Kulbergs closed the meeting by emphasising the need for a detailed, regional strategy that strengthens the resilience of energy supply, communications and transport networks, including a specific action plan to prevent threats, and it should be coordinated with national initiatives and all EU institutions, NATO legal acts related to the protection of critical infrastructure. It was agreed that the WG would conclude its work during the summer and present the final results at the 34th BSPC in Mariehamn in August.