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Last week there were two news that gave an idea that everything that surrounds the cuts and damage of underwater cables in the Baltic is far from ending. After an investigation carried out in the United States, it was slid that the cases in recent months They were not due to a Russian sabotage, but to inexperience and the deterioration. Hours later, United Kingdom put the focus on Russia After detecting a ship in its waters for the second time. Sweden too.
A Sweden-Leonia cable. Apparently, A new underwater data cable, now between Sweden and Latvia, was damaged yesterday Sundaymarking the fourth recent incident in the Baltic Sea, one that generates concern in NATO about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
Latvia’s prime minister, Evika Siliņa, has described the damage as significant and probably “caused by an external force”which has led to the opening of a criminal investigation. As we have explained, previous incidents They have been linked to Russian and Chinese ships.
Ongoing research and measures. The Financial Times had a few hours ago That the systemal authorities already have a suspect. In fact, they sent a patrol boat to inspect a vessel near the cable at the time of damage, while two other ships are also being monitored.
Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, confirmed the damage to at least one cable and said that Sweden is collaborating closely with Latvia and NATO to clarify the incident. In response to these attacks on critical infrastructure, NATO has deployed drones, submarines, ships and airplanes in the region Under the “Baltic Sentry” operationan action that aims to detect and prevent possible sabotage attempts. As we also count, United Kingdom has deployed its p8 posidon fighters.
Background and suspicions. The situation, by repetitive, leads to the affected nations that there is something else. The Recent incidents in the Baltic They have fueled suspicions about possible acts of sabotage by Russian and Chinese vessels. Finland recently seized An oil tanker of the so -called “Shadow Flot” by Russiacomposed of old ships registered in remote jurisdictions such as the Cook Islands, which evade international sanctions. Finland Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen declared that It is unlikely that the damage will be accidentalalthough he avoided pointing directly to Russia.
Not just that. In previous incidents, a Chinese ship, the Newnew Polar Bear, damaged a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia by dragging your anchor, while Chinese load Yi Peng 3 crossed on two data cables In the same region in November. Subsequently, he remained a month in international waters between Denmark and Sweden, where he was approached by Chinese researchers, although access to Swedish inspectors was denied, generating criticism from Stockholm.
Why are they so important. It We have underlined On more than one occasion, but now something else joins. This last incident occurs in a high voltage context, since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are preparing to disconnect in February from the Soviet Electricity Inherited and join the European continental system, a key step for its total integration in the West. The three countries, NATO members and the EU, consider this transition as His last separation from Russian influencewhich has generated fears of possible sabotage attempts to hinder the process.
In this regard, Lithuania Defense Minister Kęstutis Budry A review of navigation standards in the Balticespecially when it comes to the use of anchors, underlining the most obvious: that the high number of recent incidents reduces the possibility of accidents.
Repairs and contingency measures. Unlike gas pipelines and power lines, whose repair can take months, Fiber optic cables damaged in the Baltic are usually restored in weeks. In fact, the State Radio and Television Center in Latvia has assured that it has already found alternative routes to maintain communications in operation.
Be that as it may, the repetition of these incidents, The room in the Baltic in such a short timeposes a significant strategic challenge for the region, one that has intensified its cooperation with NATO to strengthen the protection of its critical infrastructure. In fact, the organization has made it clear that any new sabotage action will be faced with firmer measures to guarantee the protection of communications and energy supply in the region.
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