Another undersea cable in the Baltic Sea damaged: Is it sabotage?

An undersea data cable linking Sweden and Latvia has been damaged in the Baltic Sea, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sunday (January 26), marking the latest in a string of incidents targeting critical infrastructure in the region.

“There is information suggesting that at least one data cable between Sweden and Latvia has been damaged in the Baltic Sea,” Kristersson posted on X, adding that the cable is owned by a Latvian entity. He confirmed ongoing discussions with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina about the situation.

The damage reportedly occurred in Swedish territorial waters at a depth of at least 50 meters, officials said.

Was it sabotage?

It is difficult to definitively say if the cable damage was sabotage at the moment. However, several factors point to a possible act of sabotage:

2. ‘External factors’: Latvia’s state radio and television center (LVRTC), which owns the cable, said the damage was “significant” and likely caused by “external factors.” In response, the company says it has launched criminal procedural actions and deployed a warship to investigate.

   It’s not just the company. Latvia’s government also said it had dispatched a warship on Sunday after damage to a fibre optic cable to Sweden. The European nation said that the undersea cable may have suffered “due to external factors”.

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3. Suspect vessel: Latvian naval officials reported identifying a “suspect vessel,” the Michalis San, a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier, which was near the site of the incident along with two other ships.

4. Previous incidents: The Baltic Sea has seen multiple cases of severed telecom and power cables in recent months, raising fears of deliberate attacks. Experts and Western officials have previously accused Russia of engaging in a “hybrid war” by targeting critical infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In response to these threats, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) recently launched a monitoring mission in the Baltic Sea using patrol ships and aircraft to deter potential sabotage of undersea infrastructure.

EU expresses solidarity

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced her support for Sweden and Latvia, calling critical infrastructure protection a “top priority.” She pledged the European Union’s solidarity with Baltic nations facing these challenges.

“The resilience and security of our critical infrastructure is a top priority,” von der Leyen posted on X.

With inputs from AFP