On a French Navy flight in the Baltic Sea, the powerful camera scrutinized the Baltic Sea and zoomed in a cargo ship plowing the lower water -the camera operator confirmed details. Until possible, the front deck and smoke of the ship are closer and closer from the chimney.
The long -distance Atlantic 2 aircraft in NATO’s new mission shifted the high -tech gaze to another target, and then more than 5 hours later, the array of airplanes was scope -out. It is adjacent to Russia, from the Baltic Sea -West Germany to Estonia in the northeast.
In combination with the mere being in the sky in the sky on the strategic sea last week, and with a military ship patroled in the water area, we sent an unmistakable message. NATO Alliance is enhancing security for alleged attempts to hinder underwater energy, data cables and pipelines. The Baltic Sea crossed the Sea of the Baltic and was urged to increase the catalog in the case that was damaged.
“We will fight back, check what is going on, take the next step, and do everything with our power so that we can confirm that it will never happen again. Mark Latte, Secretary -General of NATO, stated this month this month, announcing a new alliance mission called the Baltic Sea St. Sentry to protect underwater infrastructure, which is essential for economic welfare in the Baltic region.
What is under the Baltic Sea?
Power, communication cable and gas pipeline have a coast in the Baltic Sea, sewn together nine countries, which are relatively shallow and almost inland. Some examples are a 94-mile baltic connector pipeline that carries gas between Finland and Estonia, a high-voltage balt cable connecting Sweden and Germany’s power network, and a 729-mile C-Lion1 communication cable in Finland and Germany. 。
Why is cable important?
The seabed pipes and cables support the power economy, keep the house warm, and connect billions of people. According to TeleGegraphy, which tracks and maps important communication networks, it is spreading to the sea and the sea of the world of more than 807,800 miles (more than enough to extend to the moon and back). The cable is usually the width of the garden hose. However, 97 % of the world communication, including a trillion dollar financial transaction, passes through them every day.
“In the past two months, it has been damaged to the cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden. There are many cables connecting Germany and Finland and recently connecting Estonia and Finland. All of these cases have been investigated. There is a serious concern, “said Latte on January 14.
What is the cause of the alarm?
Since October 2023, at least 11 Baltic cables have been damaged. The latest one is an optical fiber cable connecting Latvia and Sweden’s Gotland Island, which is reported to have burst on Sunday. Cable operators pay attention to the fact that underwater cables are common, but the frequency and concentration of the Baltic Sea incident have increased the suspicion that damage may be intentional.
Russia also targets a cable as part of the so -called “hybrid game” in order to unstable European countries, which help Moscow’s pursuing full -scale invasion from full -scale invasions. You may be able to do it.
Ratte states: without blaming Russia specifically. “Hybrid means hindrance. Hybrid means cyber attacks. Hybrid can mean assassination attacks, trials, and in this case to collide with an important submarine infrastructure.”
The Finnish police are Eagle S, an oil tanker that damaged the other two communication cables, which connects Finnish and Estonia on December 25, to avoid sanctions on Russian oil. I suspect that Moscow is part of Moscow’s “Shadow Fleet”. export.
The Finnish authorities shortened the tanker as soon as they left the Russian port, dragged the anchor, and clearly disconnected the cable. Finnish investigators argue that the ship left a 62 -mile length on the seabed.
Intelligence questions
Several Western Intelligence Horse Agency said on a condition of anonymity due to the delicate nature of work, and said that the recent damage was likely to be accidental in the AP communication.
One of the Intelligence officials told AP that the mechanical disability of the ship’s logs and the anchor of the ship is one of the “multiple adaptation” away from Russia’s obstruction. Officials said that Russian cables were also cut. Another Western officials said to discuss the intelligence issues anonymously, and said that Russia had sent an intellization report ship to one cable burst to investigate the damage.
The Washington Post first reported emerging consensus between US and European security services, which is likely to cause maritime accidents.
Be careful with cable operators
European Susea Cables Association, which represents the owner and operator of the cable, was damaged by three days after the fault was reported in two links in the Baltic Sea in November. It was reported that there was. In the northern European waters, the main cause of the damage is commercial fisheries or boat anchors.
In the rupture of the optical fiber cable on Sunday, connecting Latvia and Sweden, the Sweden authorities detained a Malta -class ship tied to South America in fertilizer cargo.
Navibulgar, a Bulgarian company that owns Vezhen, stated that the damage was not intentional, but the left anchor seemed to have been dragged to the seabed and the ship crew found it during sailing. 。
NATO’s “Baltic Sea Story” mission
The Alliance has deployed warships, marine patrols, and naval drones for missions to provide “enhanced monitoring and deterrence”.
A cross -check boat discovered from the sky on a list of ships ordered by 14 crews on a French Navy monitoring flight to be monitored.
“For example, if you witness a suspicious activity from a ship, for example, you can get anchor at a very low speed or at the moment you should be anchored -this is something we can see.” Alban T, whose surname was disclosed by the French army for the above reasons.
“You can see the sensor very well and see what’s going on.”
Barows reported by London. London’s AP journalist Jill Lawless, Washington’s David Klepper, and Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgarian, have contributed to the report.
