Suspected sabotage hits undersea infrastructure between Finland and Estonia

On Tuesday (10 October), the Finnish government announced an alarming incident involving critical underwater infrastructure linking Finland and Estonia, which has been damaged under suspicious circumstances. This underwater infrastructure includes a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable laid under the Baltic Sea. The incident has raised concerns, with sabotage being a plausible cause, and raises further questions about security in the strategic waters of the Baltic Sea, which are at the centre of geopolitical tensions.

In an immediate response to the damage, operations on the Balticconnector gas pipeline were halted early on Sunday (8 October) amid indications of a gas leak in the 77-kilometre (48-mile) pipeline. In a statement, Gasgrid Finland, the company that oversees the pipeline, said it expected the repair to take several months.

Image
The Balticconnector marine gas pipeline opened in 2020 between Paldiski, Estonia and Inkoo, Finland. OpenStreetMap
The Balticconnector marine gas pipeline opened in 2020 between Paldiski, Estonia and Inkoo, Finland. OpenStreetMap

NATO, aware of the security implications, has extended its support. In a statement, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pledged to share relevant information on the incident with affected Allies, underlining the Alliance's cooperative security framework in the Baltic region.

The manifestation of a significant rupture was indicated by the sudden drop in pipeline pressure, a Baltic energy official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. However, the exact cause is still under investigation.

Commenting on the incident on Tuesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö highlighted the possibility of "outside activities", although the exact cause is still under investigation. The ongoing investigation is a joint effort by Finnish and Estonian authorities to identify the cause and extent of the damage.

“It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the communication cable is the result of external activity" Niinistö said on X (formerly Twitter), on Tuesday. “The cause of the damage is not yet clear; the investigation continues.”

The Finnish President said the authorities were 'in contact with our allies and partners' and that the country was 'prepared and our readiness is good', adding that the incident had 'no effect on our security of supply'.

To draw a parallel, this disruption is reminiscent of an incident in 2022, when the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea suffered explosions that were identified as deliberate sabotage. 

The pipeline route, from Inkoo in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia, crosses the Gulf of Finland and extends into Russian territorial waters, culminating in the port of St Petersburg. 

Maximiliaan van Lange, Senior Research Associate at commonspace.eu, says that the recurring episodes of potential sabotage highlight the vulnerability and strategic importance of the underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region, requiring increased vigilance and cooperative security measures to protect these critical assets. The proximity to Russian waters adds a layer of complexity to the region's security paradigm.

source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: Vessel lays Balticconnector Pipeline. Allseas.

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
European Commission launches a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling

European Commission launches a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling

Criminal networks take advantage of people's desperation, and this abuse often leads to loss of life. Migrant smugglers squeezing hundreds of people onto unseaworthy boats, resulted in a staggering humanitarian toll of over 28 000 people having drowned or missing in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. The main beneficiaries are the criminals, the smuggling networks in countries of origin, transit and destination. The current legislative framework is the Facilitators Package from 2002. Under the Facilitators Package, any person who intentionally assists the unauthorised entry, transit, or residence of a non-EU national into the EU, or, for financial gain, to reside there is to be sanctioned unless they are doing so for humanitarian reasons. On Tuesday (28 November), the European Commission proposed new legislation to prevent and fight migrant smuggling. The Commission has also launched a Call to Action for a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, at an International Conference hosted this week in Brussels. The Commission will ensure that the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling will work at bilateral and multilateral level as well as through the work of the UNODC. Regular stocktaking at political level will be ensured, with the first event taking place in Copenhagen in the spring 2024. The Conference will be the first such opportunity to take stock of the achievements of the Global Alliance. Migrant smuggling is a criminal activity that disrespects human life and the dignity of people in the pursuit of financial or other material benefits. Smuggling networks make substantial profits from their criminal activities, ranging between EUR 4.7 – 6 billion worldwide annually.  The modi operandi of smuggling networks change rapidly, adapting to circumstances and responses by national authorities. This is why the Commission is increasing its efforts to tackle this crime at a global scale.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
European Commission launches a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling

European Commission launches a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling

Criminal networks take advantage of people's desperation, and this abuse often leads to loss of life. Migrant smugglers squeezing hundreds of people onto unseaworthy boats, resulted in a staggering humanitarian toll of over 28 000 people having drowned or missing in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. The main beneficiaries are the criminals, the smuggling networks in countries of origin, transit and destination. The current legislative framework is the Facilitators Package from 2002. Under the Facilitators Package, any person who intentionally assists the unauthorised entry, transit, or residence of a non-EU national into the EU, or, for financial gain, to reside there is to be sanctioned unless they are doing so for humanitarian reasons. On Tuesday (28 November), the European Commission proposed new legislation to prevent and fight migrant smuggling. The Commission has also launched a Call to Action for a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, at an International Conference hosted this week in Brussels. The Commission will ensure that the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling will work at bilateral and multilateral level as well as through the work of the UNODC. Regular stocktaking at political level will be ensured, with the first event taking place in Copenhagen in the spring 2024. The Conference will be the first such opportunity to take stock of the achievements of the Global Alliance. Migrant smuggling is a criminal activity that disrespects human life and the dignity of people in the pursuit of financial or other material benefits. Smuggling networks make substantial profits from their criminal activities, ranging between EUR 4.7 – 6 billion worldwide annually.  The modi operandi of smuggling networks change rapidly, adapting to circumstances and responses by national authorities. This is why the Commission is increasing its efforts to tackle this crime at a global scale.