Swedish authorities have seized a Maltese-flagged oil tanker suspected of damaging a critical undersea fiber-optic cable between Latvia and Sweden’s Gotland island. The ship, identified by local media as the Vezhen, is now anchored off Sweden’s southeastern coast as investigators probe possible sabotage 🌊.
What Happened?
The cable’s operator, Latvian state-owned LVRTC, reported sudden data disruptions early Sunday. With the cable lying 50+ meters deep in Sweden’s economic zone, repair teams will need to dive to confirm the cause—but officials suspect external tampering 🔍.
NATO Allies on Alert
Latvian PM Evika Silina convened an emergency meeting, coordinating with NATO and Baltic states. Sweden’s PM Ulf Kristersson pledged resources for the probe, calling it a 'top priority.' A Latvian naval patrol boat is already en route to inspect the site 🚤.
Baltic Tensions Rise
This marks the latest in a string of Baltic Sea infrastructure incidents, raising geopolitical eyebrows. With undersea cables vital for global internet traffic, the stakes are high—imagine your Wi-Fi going dark mid-TikTok scroll 😱. Experts warn such vulnerabilities could ripple across economies and security systems.
No group has claimed responsibility, but the mystery on the high seas continues…
