Hybrid warfare tactics shift from Taiwan Straits to Baltic Sea
It seems that the tactics of hybrid warfare in the Taiwan Strait are being transferred to the Baltic Sea, reported the Estonian broadcaster ERR, citing Toomas Hanso. Recent incidents are proof of this, emphasizes the expert.
The recent cutting of undersea cables in the Baltic is said to confirm the validity of this claim, suggests Toomas Hanso from the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS).
In the past 18 months, several pipelines and power and internet cables have been damaged in the Baltic, principally connecting Finland with Estonia, Sweden, and Germany. The latest such case occurred on December 25, 2024. "In at least two instances, the cause of the cable damage was alleged to be anchors dropped from ships. Such actions are suspected of being sabotage, but proving it is challenging, which is typical of hybrid warfare," reads the portal ERR.
A tactic copied from the Far East
The ships involved in these events sail under the flags of Hong Kong, China, and the Cook Islands and have connections with Russia. Toomas Hanso notes that these incidents are not unique. In recent years, over 30 fibre optics connecting Taiwan with nearby islands have been severed by Chinese ships. The most recent such incident occurred on January 3, 2025.
According to the Estonian expert, the common factors in the events in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea are their frequency, geopolitical tensions in both regions, and their direct impact on national security and communication infrastructure.
After the EstLink 2 cable was damaged in December, Estonia, Finland, and Lithuania proposed updating international maritime regulations to prevent further incidents. However, experts point out that this will be difficult as it requires the consent of Russia and China.
NATO countries in the Baltic Sea region have agreed on establishing a Baltic Guard to protect underwater pipelines and power and telecommunication cables.
