NATO allies are facing a new threat in Rising tensions with Russia after a series of suspected attacks on on energy and Internet undersea cables last December 2024 on Christmas morning. Estonians woke up with their power supply cut by 1/3 when the EST link 2 undersea power cable linking Estonia to Finland failed. Finnish officials say a Cook Islands flagged tanker carrying oil from Russia to Turkey apparently dragged its anchor over the cable damaging it. There are dozens of vulnerable and unprotected Internet and power cables lying on the sea bed of the Baltic Sea. More than 95% of data worldwide moves through more than 1 million kilometers of those cables spanning more Than 880,000 miles.
The repairs for this kind of damage are costly and can take months to be fixed. Raising fears that a concerted attack could paralized communication networks and jeopardized hospital surgeries. Thankfully the incident has had just a modum of effect on Estonia because of reserve energy supplies but it sounded the alarm for NATO officials, already tracking incidents of suspected cable cutting. In a matter of weeks the alliance mobilized a group of warships to specifically prevent these suspected attacks. Stepping up patrols on the Baltic Sea and increasing coordination with border guards from the Nations affected. Russia denies having any role in the in the incidents. Made an officials note that the ships involved originate in or are traveling to a Russian Port.
NATO's Baltic Sentry mission is using high-tech tools to protect these undersea cables. Sunrise around 100 miles from Russia on the near freezing Baltic Sea tension mounts.
NATO is retooling for a new war. A Hybrid war. Ultra Modern sophisticated Tech is being prepped for underwater action. Specialized subsea drones designed to dive deep below the surface.
This is the sharp end of this mission, protecting the Internet. It's not up there in the sky but it's under the sea. NATO's Mission Baltic Sentry is a rapid response to an escalating new threat. Multiple cables cut in recent months.
This is what the undersea Internet cables look like this size. They're tiny and vulnerable. They're easily cut in these waters between Estonia and Finland.
Beyond an unseen enemy is believed to have been targeting Internet and power cables. The subsea drones and the battleships getting eyes on the threat.
A lot of the ships that we found are acting strangely originate in a Russian port or are going to a Russian port. This ship anchor suspected of being dragged on the seabed intentionally damaging cables.
Repairs can be complicated costly and take months to fix. Worst case, an entire nation can be cut off from the Internet.
Under the sea, there are multiple cables linking Estonia with Finland in the Baltic Sea. Dozens more the numbers keep growing across the globe. There are hundreds of cables according to NATO more than 800,000 miles of cable carrying 10 trillion dollars of International trade.
Under the sea, there are multiple cables linking Estonia with Finland in the Baltic Sea. Dozens more the numbers keep growing across the globe. There are hundreds of cables according to NAT more than 800,000 miles of cable carrying 10 trillion dollars of International trade.
Russia denies any role but by this day's end more NATO Nations committing forces to Baltic Sentry. The flotilla growing NATO HQ commanders facing tough choices.