Two undersea cables have been cut in the Baltic Sea, and European authorities suspect sabotage

Authorities in Europe are investigating a suspected sabotage of two undersea fibre optic cables. One cable connects Finland and Germany, the other Sweden and Lithuania. They are also monitoring a Chinese cargo vessel that may have been involved.

After the damage was discovered, the foreign ministers from Finland and Germany issued a joint press release saying that they were "deeply concerned" about the damaged undersea cable linking Finland and Germany. "The fact that an incident of this nature immediately raises suspicions about intentional damage speaks volumes of the volatile times we live in. A thorough investigation is under way.

"Our European security is under threat not only from Russia's aggression against Ukraine but also from hybrid war by malicious actors." "Our security and the resilience our societies depend on safeguarding our critical infrastructure."

Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre, told Lithuanian National Radio and Television that it was too early to draw any definitive conclusions. However, "experts" say it is likely that there has been physical or mechanical damage. If this is the case, "it was most likely caused by negligence or intentional damage," he said.

The Danish military confirmed to AP that they are monitoring the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 which was in the vicinity when the two cables damaged. The Danish Navy has not confirmed reports that it had boarded and detained the ship.

Rod Thornton, senior lecturer in defense studies at King's College London, told CNN that this would be a minor escalation but an intentional one. Thornton said that they could have cut a cable between the US and UK or Europe and the US in the Atlantic, which would have had major, major consequences. This is a warning shot.

The bad news is that even sabotage at a low level is a escalation and comes at a moment when the EU has to deal with the crisis caused by Russia's ongoing invasion in Ukraine. According to Foreign Policy, the Yi Peng 3 was a Chinese vessel, but it was captained by a Russian. This is not unusual, but in the context of the situation, it is noteworthy.

Tom's Guide noted that this is not the first time this has happened. In 2023, a Chinese cargo vessel damaged an undersea pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia. Finland claimed that the damage was deliberate.