An Indian warship, INS Tamal, has been spotted moving south in the Gulf of Bothnia, raising questions about its presence. While it hasn't violated Swedish territory, the Swedish Armed Forces are closely monitoring it. The ship, recently launched in Kaliningrad, is believed to be on a training mission, with no significant security interests in the region.
Indian Warship Moves South in the Gulf of Bothnia: 'We Are Monitoring It'
Indian Warship Moves South in the Gulf of Bothnia: 'We Are Monitoring It'
The Indian warship that has been moving in the Gulf of Bothnia over the past few days is now heading south. The reason for its presence remains unclear.
– India has almost zero security policy interests here, says security expert Magnus Christiansson, who presents a possible theory.
On Friday, the Indian naval ship INS Tamal appeared in the Gulf of Bothnia.
Yesterday, it was in the Swedish economic zone near Umeå, but is slowly moving south.
Tamal has not violated Swedish territory, but the Armed Forces are still closely monitoring the ship.
– We have ships following it, says Marie Tisäter from the Armed Forces' communications department.
Contact with Finland
The Finnish navy is also monitoring the journey. Marie Tisäter does not comment on how the countries have worked together but says they have communicated with Finland.
– We have daily contact with our allies.
The Armed Forces say they will not comment further on the ship's voyage other than that they continue to follow it.
– We do not comment on the activities of other countries. They are in a place where they have the right to travel, and we have not seen them do anything illegal, says Marie Tisäter.
India purchased the ship from Russia, and it was recently launched in Kaliningrad.
A Likely and Less Likely Theory
Russia and India have long had a military cooperation, and India also plays an important role in the Russian economy.
Magnus Christiansson, an expert on security in the Baltic Sea area at the Swedish Defence University, says that the oil India imports from Russia is crucial for the country's treasury.
At the same time, he sees it as unlikely that the Indian warship is here for Russian interests.
– If it were a joint exercise with Russia, it could be a political statement: If you mess with us, you mess with both of us. But if it sails alone, it is not so.
According to him, the most likely scenario is that the ship is on a training mission. Magnus Christiansson describes this as 'undramatic'.
– India has almost zero security policy interests here.