The recent cutting of two vital undersea fiber optic cables connecting Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania has prompted German authorities to suspect sabotage. The first incident occurred early on Sunday morning, affecting the 135-mile cable from Gotland, Sweden, to Lithuania, followed by a confirmation from Finnish telecom firm Cinia on Monday about the damage to the 729-mile C-Lion1 link connecting Germany and Finland.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed skepticism about these cables being damaged accidentally, suggesting the timing and circumstances were too coincidental to dismiss the possibility of sabotage. He indicated a strong belief that intentional damage had occurred, ruling out mishaps such as fishing vessels inadvertently causing damage.
This incident raises significant concerns about the vulnerability of undersea cables, which are critical for internet connectivity across the Baltic Sea. Although repairs are expected shortly, attention is focused on the potential culprits. A joint statement from the foreign ministers of Germany and Finland alluded to Russia, citing the broader threats to European security amid ongoing tensions stemming from the conflict in Ukraine and other hybrid warfare strategies.
While investigations into the cause of the damage continue, the idea of coincidence cannot be wholly excluded. Experts note that fishing vessels can, on occasion, sever cables, although the unusual timing has raised eyebrows.
The Baltic Sea has recently been the site of multiple suspicious incidents, including the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines and the damage to a separate gas line and fiber optic connection between Finland and Estonia in 2023. A report by a Royal United Services Institute fellow pointed to Russia’s advanced capabilities in undersea sabotage, emphasizing that these incidents reflect a dangerous escalation in targeting critical infrastructure.
The situation underscores the concerning prevalence of hybrid warfare tactics utilized by adversaries, which often leverage plausible deniability to conduct aggressive acts without confirming responsibility.
