The vast network of submarine cables forms the invisible backbone of global communication, carrying essential data for commerce, security, and daily life. Stretching over 1.2 million kilometers and transmitting 98% of the world’s digital data, these cables enable everything from financial transactions to streaming services. However, their strategic importance also makes them a potential target for disruption—a reality brought to the forefront by recent incidents in the Baltic Sea.
Within 48 hours, two major submarine cables—C-Lion 1 and Arelion—were severed, sparking investigations across Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Lithuania. Officials, including Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, suspect sabotage, with Pistorius stating, “Nobody believes these cables were accidentally severed.”
The incidents come at a time of heightened tensions in the Baltic Sea region, amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and growing concerns over hybrid warfare tactics targeting critical infrastructure.
A Strategic Asset at Risk
Submarine cables carry immense strategic value. According to a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), these privately owned and operated cables are “critical points of leverage against the security of Western nations.” The increasing reliance on high-bandwidth technologies, including AI, further underscores their importance.
This vulnerability has not gone unnoticed. Russia, for instance, has been linked to suspicious activities near critical cable infrastructure. The Yantar, a Russian military vessel equipped to deploy mini-submarines capable of reaching depths of 6,000 meters, has been observed near transatlantic cables in recent years.
Eric Lavault, a French naval officer, explained the stakes: “Data is an extremely important commodity these days, and countries are increasingly in a position to attack each other’s ‘new vital interests’ like the internet, which has direct effects on civil society and the economy.”
Also Read: Why Is There a Need to Deploy ‘Smart’ Subsea Cables?
What Happened in the Baltic Sea?
The first incident occurred early Sunday, November 17, when the Arelion cable connecting the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania was damaged. By Monday, the C-Lion 1 cable, linking Helsinki and Rostock, Germany, was also severed.
Tracking data placed the Chinese cargo vessel Yi Peng 3 near the C-Lion 1 cable at the time of the damage. The ship, which departed Russia’s Ust-Luga port on November 15, is under scrutiny, though no direct involvement has been confirmed. Swedish authorities are also investigating another vessel spotted in the vicinity of the cables.
“We are closely following what the relevant authorities are saying,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it is an external actor that has carried out sabotage.”
Frederiksen and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson highlighted the increased risk of hybrid attacks, cyberattacks, and infrastructure targeting in the Baltic region.
“The fact that such an incident immediately raises suspicions of intentional damage speaks volumes about the volatility of our times,” said Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in a joint statement.
A Pattern of Escalation?
These Baltic incidents were not the first of their kind In October 2023, an undersea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship. A year earlier, a series of underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
These events have heightened fears of hybrid warfare, where state and non-state actors combine cyberattacks, disinformation, and physical sabotage to destabilize adversaries.
Also Read: China’s Cyber Assault Targets US Telecom Networks
Russia’s Role Under Scrutiny
European officials have identified Russia as a likely suspect, citing its history of leveraging infrastructure vulnerabilities. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the accusations as “absurd” and “laughable.” He countered by criticizing the lack of accountability for Ukraine’s alleged sabotage activities in the Baltic Sea.
However, the geopolitical context keeps the spotlight on Russia. Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas urged the EU to use its sanctions regime to address sabotage of critical infrastructure, emphasizing the “growing threat posed by Russia in our neighborhood.”
Preparing for the Unseen Battle
For now, internet traffic has been rerouted through other international links, minimizing disruptions. However, the damage serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in global infrastructure.
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin underscored the urgency: “It is crucial to clarify why we currently have two cables in the Baltic Sea that are not working.”
As investigations continue, the incidents highlight a broader challenge—how to safeguard the infrastructure that underpins modern life. With hybrid warfare tactics becoming increasingly sophisticated, battles for control may not only be fought on land or sea but in the silent depths below.
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