The European Union has pledged to increase security in the Baltic Sea following the investigation of a new cable break in the region. The European Commission has announced plans to enhance measures to prevent and detect threats to submarine cables, which are crucial for carrying internet traffic. Several undersea cables have been severed in recent months in the Baltic Sea, leading to concerns that Russia may be using these actions as retaliation against NATO countries supporting Ukraine. NATO has also increased its military presence in the area with a new patrol and surveillance operation called Baltic Sentry to safeguard infrastructure in the sea.
The damaged cable under investigation is believed to be the C-Lion1, a major telecommunications line connecting Finland and Germany. The Finnish owner of the cable, Cinia, confirmed that they had detected damage but stressed that telecommunications were operating normally. This is the third instance of damage to the C-Lion1 in recent months, but the cause of the damage is still under investigation. The Swedish police have opened a preliminary investigation as the damage occurred in Sweden’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden emphasized that reports of potential damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea are taken very seriously given the current security situation in the region.
The Swedish Coast Guard was alerted to the cable break and was en route to the area off Gotland, an eastern island. Cinia, majority-owned by the Finnish state, has requested Finnish criminal authorities to investigate the incident. In December, telecommunications using the C-Lion1 cable were disrupted due to a probable cable cut in the Gulf of Finland. Another break was detected in late November east of the Swedish island Oland. Finland had seized an oil tanker suspected of cutting important underwater cables, accusing it of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” If Russia is found to be sabotaging vital infrastructure in Europe using shadow fleets, it would mark an escalation in the conflict between Russia and the West.
Sweden, NATO’s newest member, previously investigated damage to an undersea cable between Sweden and Latvia, boarding a cargo ship suspected of committing “gross sabotage.” The possibility of an accident causing the damage to the cable appears to be minimal, according to Finnish authorities. The C-Lion1 cable has been in service since 2016 and is essential for connecting telecommunications networks in Central Europe to the Nordic countries. The Baltic Sea region has become a focal point for security concerns, with NATO and the European Union both taking steps to enhance security measures to protect critical infrastructure in the area. The investigation into the damaged cable will be crucial in determining the cause and potential implications for security in the region.
