Germany Warns of Possible Sabotage After Damage to Undersea Cables
Germany has raised concerns that the recent damage to two underwater telecoms cables in the Baltic Sea could be the result of sabotage. Speaking at a meeting in Brussels, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the damage, which occurred between Sunday and Monday, should be presumed to be a deliberate act, dismissing the possibility of accidental damage from ship anchors. The cables affected include one linking Finland and Germany and another connecting Sweden and Lithuania.
Pistorius emphasized that while it remains unclear who was responsible for the damage, the incident should be considered a “hybrid” action, suggesting the possibility of political or military involvement. He expressed skepticism about claims that the cables were damaged accidentally and underlined the need to investigate the situation thoroughly.
Heightened Surveillance and Investigation Underway
In response to the damage, Lithuania has increased its naval patrols in the Baltic Sea. The Lithuanian armed forces are working alongside regional NATO members to assess the situation, while the Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office has begun gathering information to decide if a formal investigation should be launched.
The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority is also coordinating with other relevant agencies to gather more details, though it declined to provide further comments on the situation. Both cable companies—Arelion, which operates the cable linking Lithuania and Sweden, and Cinia, which owns the Finland-Germany link—confirmed that the damage was significant, with Arelion calling it “full damage.”
Concerns of Espionage and Sabotage in the Region
The incident comes amid growing tensions in the region, following the war between Russia and Ukraine. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans pointed to increased Russian activity in the seas, suggesting it could be linked to espionage or sabotage aimed at critical infrastructure. This mirrors previous concerns about Russia’s possible involvement in damaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022, which remains unsolved.
Both Sweden and Germany are closely monitoring the situation, and while no direct evidence has pointed to a specific perpetrator, the damage to the cables raises further questions about the security of vital infrastructure in the region. The companies involved have stated that repairs could take up to 15 days, depending on the assessment of the damage.