Massive amount of World War II-era ammunition still rests on Baltic Sea floor
(MENAFN) The massive amount of World War II-era ammunition still resting on the Baltic Sea floor requires a coordinated international cleanup effort, not unilateral actions by individual countries, according to expert Bernhard Trautvetter.
Germany recently wrapped up a pilot project to retrieve sunken munitions in the Lübeck Bay area. While considered a success, authorities admitted the approach may need refining in regions where ammunition is more densely packed. The project has reignited concerns about environmental risks posed by the decaying weapons.
An estimated 1.6 million tons of WWII munitions are believed to lie at the bottom of the North and Baltic seas, including around 40 tons containing hazardous chemical agents like mustard gas and phosgene. Over time, corrosion has made the aging stockpile a growing threat to marine ecosystems and nearby coastlines.
Speaking to RT, Trautvetter, a German peace activist and commentator, emphasized that tackling the “poison time bombs” under the Baltic should be a joint mission involving NATO countries and Russia. He stressed that the deteriorating munitions pose a danger not just to fish and plant life but to all nations bordering the sea.
Russia, which has access to the Baltic via Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg, has repeatedly called for a joint effort to clear the remnants of war. However, worsening relations with Western nations have left Moscow excluded from current initiatives.
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