The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded on April 4, 1949, in the aftermath of World War II. The treaty established an alliance between the United States, Canada, and 30 European countries. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, NATO’s purpose is to collectively ensure the defense of participating nations through political and military means.

In October 2024, Mark Rutte, formerly Prime Minister of the Netherlands for 14 years, became the 14th Secretary General of NATO. NATO’s budget stands at $1.474 trillion, with $860 billion funded by the United States, accounting for 68 percent of the alliance’s defense expenditures.

At a press conference on March 26, 2025, Secretary General Rutte addressed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country is one of NATO’s major financial contributors. Rutte stated that ” At sea, in the air and on land, Poland is a vital contributor to NATO’s collective defense. And I want to thank you for participating, and you mentioned it, in Baltic Sentry, when on Christmas Day, 25th of December, we had a cutting of the sea cable between Estonia and Finland, we had collectively to get into action.” He added, ” But as President Trump has said, and I agree with him, European Allies and Canada need to do more. We should all follow, therefore, the Polish example and rapidly ramp up our spending and capabilities and match words with action, by investing more in security, our industry and in our deterrence.”

The Baltic Sentry program Secretary General Rutte referenced is NATO’s response to the severing of critical undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea, vital communication infrastructure for NATO allies. In recent years, maritime sabotage has increased, with NATO suspecting both Russia and China of involvement. Secretary General Rutte, alongside NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, French Admiral Pierre Vandier, announced that funding NATO is sourcing will be managed by Task Force X, which will deploy drone technology to protect maritime infrastructure.

Admiral Vandier explained that Task Force X will use drones in a way similar to how law enforcement agencies use networks of CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) systems on land. The system is inspired by one the United States Navy deployed recently as part of Task Group 59.1, which utilized aquatic drones to monitor security in the Middle East. While Admiral Vandier did not specify the types of drones or the fleet size, he noted that the drones will enable NATO defense operators to monitor the Baltic Sea continuously, day and night.

The drone fleet will likely include both unmanned surface and submersible vehicles. These drones will be equipped with a range of sensors, including visual and audio recording devices, navigational tools, and environmental sensors. The cameras are of the highest quality, and capable of functioning in varying light conditions to provide a comprehensive view of both the water’s surface and the depths below. Drone technology has already been used to investigate acts of sabotage in the Baltic Sea, but according to Admiral Vandier, now is the time for NATO to expand its reliance on drone technology for defense.

Task Force X is set to deploy drones as part of the Baltic Sentry program within the coming months. Vandier stated that “Task Force X will integrate uncrewed systems with existing naval forces before transitioning to a fully autonomous fleet, operating independently to counter threats and protect critical infrastructure.” He continued, “It will collect data between uncrewed systems and other emergent technologies, fuse that data within a resilient network, and utilize artificial intelligence to shape situational awareness. This is one of many tangible examples of how NATO is rapidly adapting its forces to a changing international security environment and countering threats against NATO nations.”

As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape the global security landscape, NATO’s investment in advanced technologies like autonomous drones signals a decisive shift toward modernized defense strategies. With initiatives like Baltic Sentry and Task Force X, the alliance is not only addressing current threats but also preparing for the challenges of tomorrow, reaffirming its commitment to collective defense and the protection of critical infrastructure across the Atlantic and beyond.

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