Germany's defense minister announced on Tuesday that officials are looking into possible sabotage as the cause of damage to two data cables under the Baltic Sea. The damaged cables include the C-Lion1 cable, which stretches from Helsinki, Finland, to Rostock, Germany, covering a distance of nearly 1,200 kilometers. Additionally, a cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden was also affected.
The defense minister highlighted concerns about Russia posing not only a military threat but also a hybrid threat. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive defense strategy in Europe. The minister expressed skepticism about the damage being accidental, dismissing theories of anchor-related incidents.
While concrete evidence is currently lacking, the German government is treating the incident as a potential act of sabotage. Both Finland and Germany have raised suspicions of foul play, citing the critical timing amidst security challenges posed by Russia's actions in Ukraine and hybrid warfare tactics.
Authorities from the two countries are collaborating on an investigation into the matter. They stressed the importance of protecting critical infrastructure like undersea data cables, given their significance in ensuring secure communication and data transmission.
