On December 3, 2024, NATO officials convened in Brussels to address recent incidents of damage to critical infrastructure in member states, with suspicions of sabotage linked to Russia and China.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced plans to enhance intelligence collaboration among member nations in response to these threats. Rutte emphasized that both nations have attempted to destabilize NATO countries through various means, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.
The discussions come in light of a recent incident involving a damaged data cable connecting Sweden and Finland, which was discovered to be severed in two locations. This disruption has affected thousands of clients, raising concerns of potential sabotage.
Swedish officials have expressed suspicion regarding the nature of the damage, while Finnish authorities are continuing their investigations without definitive evidence of wrongdoing. The situation is being taken seriously, according to Finland's Minister of Transport and Communications.
Previous incidents involving underwater data cables in the Baltic Sea have also raised alarms, with investigations underway to determine whether sabotage was involved. The UK’s cybersecurity chief reiterated the threat posed by Russia and China, labeling them as hostile states utilizing technology for disruption.