The War Zone – At least 20 drone boats will take part in NATO’s new Baltic Sentry effort spurred by suspected sabotage of undersea cables.

Defense News – Following a series of sabotage incidents against underwater infrastructure, NATO has launched a maritime patrol mission in the Baltic Sea that will include frigates, naval drones, submarines and surveillance aircraft in a show of force against a shadowy fleet of vessels suspected of doing Moscow’s bidding.

EurAsia Daily – Another submarine cable connecting Sweden, Lithuania, Germany and Finland was damaged in the Baltic Sea. 

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – In this article, we consider the growing challenges for NATO in countering a series of attacks on pipelines and cables in the Baltic Sea and the dangers posed by merchant ships of the Russian ‘shadow fleet’.

The War Zone – A Chinese-owned vessel is suspected of severing an undersea cable off the Taiwanese coast recently, according to authorities on the island. Taiwan’s coast guard requested that the cargo ship return to shore for an investigation, but it eventually continued its passage. Last Friday’s incident is the latest to have affected Taiwanese cables and is part of a pattern of similar events that have also occurred recently around Europe.

LloydsList – Eagle S, the Russia-linked tanker suspected of damaging an underwater electricity cable on Christmas Day, was kitted out with special transmitting and receiving devices that were used to monitor naval activity, according to a source with direct involvement in the ship, which has since been detained by Finnish police.

Carnegie Endowment – Complex security challenges to undersea communications infrastructure are forcing NATO, the EU, and individual European governments to adapt, yet many efforts remain in their infancy.

Marine Technology News – The 12-day ‘Freezing Winds’ drill was part of a push to step up the transatlantic defence alliance’s protection of infrastructure in waters that carry 15% of global shipping traffic and are seen as increasingly vulnerable to attack.

BBC – Sweden has formally asked China to co-operate with an investigation into damage to two cables in the Baltic Sea after a Chinese ship was linked to the incidents.

USNI News – Sweden’s prime minister asked a Chinese bulk carrier, suspected of cutting two undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, to return to its water as Stockholm’s investigation continues.

The Guardian – Carrying 99% of the world’s international telecommunications, the vulnerable lines are drawing nefarious interest

The War Zone – The Chinese ship, the Yi Peng 3, is now anchored, with a Royal Danish Navy patrol boat alongside it.

The Guardian – Boris Pistorius says ‘no one believes’ two undersea fibre-optic communications cables were cut accidentally.

War on the Rocks – The global telecommunications network is increasingly owned and maintained by entities that can be manipulated against the United States. And America and its allies have dropped their deserved lead as innovators in this industry. For the United States, regaining a technological and strategic lead in telecommunications is an urgent necessity for national security. That’s what I will try to convince you of here: The United States used to dominate in this sector. It does not anymore. It is critical that American industry focuses on the next deep horizon, specifically in optimization, private networks, and free space optics, with a lot of help from the U.S. Department of Defense. It’s also a great opportunity for investment. Both public and private sector players can work now to meet this challenge and should, before it’s too late to re-establish dominance.

Naval News – To counter continuing seabed warfare challenges in Northern Europe, the UK Royal Navy (RN) is continuing to build its understanding of the technologies, capabilities, and operational impact RFA Proteus¬ – its new, dedicated seabed warfare vessel – will have in developing the navy’s knowledge of the seabed operating environment, the RN’s First Sea Lord told an international seapower conference.

Telegeography – We’re now seeing reports that a ship dragging an anchor was likely to blame. If so, that wouldn’t be surprising — accidents with ship anchors account for the second most common cause of submarine cable faults. 

Naval News – The way that maritime drones are reshaping naval warfare is becoming clear in the Black Sea. But the extent to which their underwater cousins, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), will influence future wars is less so. One arena where they are likely to shine is in seabed warfare, itself mysterious and little understood.  

Jerusalem Post – The successful targeting of the four cables, which are believed to belong to the AAE-1, Seacom, EIG, and TGN systems, marks a serious disruption of communications between Europe and Asia.

Wavell Room – The aim of this paper is to reflect on some key questions around the problem of seabed infrastructure defence and explore what the ‘Do Nothing’ (or at least very little) option would look like.

Defense News – Threats by Houthi rebels based in Yemen to slice a lattice of undersea cables in the Red Sea region, jeopardizing communications and financial data, are unrealistic, according to the commander of the Office of U.S. Naval Intelligence.

Barents Observer – Norway has not faced such serious threats against its national security in several decades, the country’s three main intelligence authorities warn in new reports. Among the key targets of malevolent foreign forces is Norwegian underwater infrastructure.

BBC – Yemen’s legitimate, UN-recognised government in Aden has warned that the Houthis, who seized much of Yemen in 2014, are now threatening to sabotage the crucial undersea communication cables, including internet lines, which run under the Red Sea – connecting Asia to Europe.

Telegeography – The Red Sea is a global hot spot at the moment due to repeated attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels against commercial shipping vessels. While this inlet is a strategic location for global shipping, it also plays a vital role in global communications networks.