Russia Interferes with Lithuanian Power

In an article on the 5th, Elizabeth Braw of Radio Free Europe, [  Balts Say Russian Navy Bullying Undersea Cable Crews, 5 May ] says the Russians are trying to slow down a new 700 Megawatts power cable being put in between Lithuania and Sweden, and due to be completed in December.  We are not used to undersea cables being used for much of anything other than TV and telephone circuits, but the Swedes have 14 of them and want to build more.  This particular one will help Lithuania by reducing its dependence on Russia for half of its power.  Braw's article says:  

"In the most recent incident, a vessel from the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet entered Lithuania's exclusive economic zone on April 30 and headed toward a NordBalt construction ship managed by the Swedish-Swiss engineering conglomerate ABB, according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

It even tried to chase the construction ship away.

'The ALCEDO vessel chartered by ABB was asked by the Russian Navy to leave its position in Lithuania's exclusive economic zone, where it had a legitimate right to be, according to international law,' Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman Gabriel Wernstedt told RFE/RL."

Today's Wall Strreet Journal [Christina Zander, Power Cable Generates Tension in Baltics ]  puts a little different spin on the same incident, citing others that have occured with the Russian Navy and Air Forces.  Russian planes have turned off their transponders and gone close to commercial and government aircraft.  That was the Cold War, in case anyone has forgotten.  The Russians claimed the cable ship was "interfering with a Naval Exercise" which is about as weak as an excuse gets in diplomatic circles.  

One good thing that comes from this kind of harrassment is the Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are increasing their militaries and NATO is having joint anti-submarine exercises in the region.  After Crimea, the countries west of the Russian border know Putin is not kidding.