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Germany Suspects Sabotage in Baltic Sea Telecoms Cable Damage

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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.

Germany’s Left-Wing BSW Challenges Pro-Ukraine Consensus with Growing Influence

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Germany’s recently established leftist-populist party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), is challenging the country’s strong support for Ukraine. As the BSW rises in three eastern states—Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony—it demands that any regional coalition partners advocate for an end to military support for Ukraine. This anti-military stance risks eroding Germany’s established pro-Ukraine consensus, even as the country ranks as Kyiv’s second-largest military backer against Russia. Moreover, these developments are intensifying friction within Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party federal coalition, already under strain in Berlin.

Formed in January, the BSW is Germany’s only anti-war party, apart from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which remains isolated as mainstream parties refuse to collaborate with it. Now a key player in the eastern states after its strong performance in recent elections, the BSW is positioning itself as an indispensable partner for coalition-building, with party leader Sahra Wagenknecht insisting that any alliances endorse her party’s anti-war policies.

This stance recently led to controversy when the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Brandenburg, Scholz’s own party, endorsed a joint statement with the BSW, asserting that “the war will not be ended by further weapons deliveries.” The statement, which also criticized the potential deployment of U.S. long-range missiles in Germany, faced backlash in Berlin and within the SPD itself. Agnieszka Brugger, a prominent Green Party lawmaker, called the SPD’s collaboration “cynical and populist,” warning that ending support for Ukraine jeopardizes the security of Germany and its allies.

While state governments cannot directly influence foreign policy, BSW’s stance arrives amid shifting public opinion, with some polls showing cooling support for Ukraine, especially as Russia advances militarily and U.S. policy on Ukraine hinges on the November 5 election.

This shift has also emboldened the SPD’s Russophile faction, evident in the recent promotion of Matthias Miersch, who has been seen as rehabilitating Gerhard Schröder, the former SPD chancellor with ties to Russian energy firm Gazprom and a personal relationship with Vladimir Putin.

A Party in Flux

BSW’s blend of economically paternalistic policies with an anti-migration stance has resonated with voters, particularly in the eastern states, where it secured double-digit percentages in recent elections. Polls suggest it could attract 7-9% of the vote in the federal election next year. This trajectory has transformed Wagenknecht, a former Leninist and long-standing cult figure, into a regular on talk shows. However, internal challenges are surfacing as local BSW leaders, particularly in Thuringia, grapple with Wagenknecht’s strict anti-war stance.

In Thuringia, Katja Wolf, BSW’s regional leader and a popular former mayor of Eisenach, prioritized coalition-building over rigid anti-war statements in talks with SPD and conservative partners. Her focus on stability led her to agree to a vague preamble about peace rather than committing to BSW’s anti-war messaging, drawing criticism from Wagenknecht, who called for a “recognizable BSW signature” in the coalition.

Political scientist Oliver Lembcke of the University of Bochum highlights the fragility of Wagenknecht’s political ventures, noting that a similar movement, “Rise Up,” she launched in 2018, dissolved within a year. As BSW gains national traction, some analysts question whether the party can withstand internal divisions and maintain cohesion through to the next federal election.

 

Innovative Butcher Proposes Sausage Solution to Germany’s Raccoon Problem

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In northeast Germany, a butcher has devised an innovative approach to combat the nation’s burgeoning raccoon population: transforming them into sausages and other meat products. Michael Reiss, a hunter who opened a butcher shop named Wildererhütte in Kade—about 90 kilometers (60 miles) west of Berlin—came up with the idea after contemplating a unique offering for the Green Week international food fair.

The Concept

Recognizing that raccoons killed as pests are often discarded, Reiss sought approval from local authorities to process the animals into food. After receiving the green light, he began producing “raccoon balls,” a type of meatball that quickly gained popularity at the fair and in his shop. Today, Reiss offers a range of seven raccoon meat products, including salami, and claims to be the only seller of raccoon meat in Europe.

“People come from all over, sometimes driving 150 kilometers (93 miles) to my store to try raccoon,” Reiss told CNN. He adds that the product is generally well received, stating, “I’ve never had anyone say it’s disgusting or that you can’t eat it. Honestly, everyone likes it.”

Taste and Appeal

For those curious about the taste, Reiss describes it as “not too dissimilar to other meats,” with a slightly softer texture. He suggests that while two sausages may reveal the raccoon flavor, those unaware would find it difficult to distinguish.

The Raccoon Problem

Reiss’s venture serves a dual purpose, addressing both culinary curiosity and an ecological issue. Raccoons were introduced to Germany from North America in the 1920s for fur farming and were released into the wild in 1934. Today, their population has exploded to an estimated 2 million, posing a significant threat to local biodiversity, particularly to reptiles and amphibians.

According to the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, raccoons consume endangered species, prompting calls for population management. While they are now legally huntable in most German states, NABU—Germany’s prominent conservation society—argues that hunting alone won’t solve the problem. Instead, they advocate for measures to protect endangered species more broadly, which would mitigate the raccoons’ impact.

Overall, Reiss’s raccoon meat products not only highlight a creative culinary trend but also reflect ongoing debates about wildlife management and biodiversity conservation in Germany.