Information
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has attributed the damage to the C-Lion1 undersea data cable connecting Germany and Finland to likely sabotage, echoing suspicions surrounding another recently damaged cable in the Baltic Sea. The C-Lion1, a 1,173-kilometer-long cable, was reported cut on Monday, though the disruption’s effects on everyday connectivity are expected to be minimal. This incident occurred in the same maritime region as the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pistorius and other officials, including Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, dismissed accidental causes, emphasizing the deliberate nature of these actions, which they labeled as hybrid warfare. While no evidence has been presented, this raises significant security concerns across Europe.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for unity in facing these hybrid threats, which she described as a broader pattern including cyberattacks and other incidents targeting critical infrastructure. Highlighting the seriousness of these threats, she noted the coincidence of the cable damage alongside events like parcel explosions and surveillance. A joint statement by the German and Finnish Foreign Ministers underscored how European security faces not just direct threats from Russia’s aggression in Ukraine but also from malicious hybrid operations.
Source: Reuters, AFP, dpa
So what
It is unsurprising that a hostile state, likely Russia or China, would target undersea cables, as they are critical for nearly all modern communication. While these cables can possibly be repaired fairly easily, their disruption underscores their vulnerability. Ultimately, this incident appears to be another tactic in the ongoing geopolitical struggle unfolding across Europe. There is also a risk that a similar incident could occur on cables between the UK and Ireland, as a Russian ship was recently seen moving over the cables in a strange pattern.
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