NATO Ally Seizes Ship After Latest Baltic Undersea Cable Sabotage

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Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. military, weapons systems and emerging technology. She joined Newsweek in January 2023, having previously worked as a reporter at the Daily Express, and is a graduate of International Journalism at City, University of London. Languages: English, Spanish.You can reach Ellie via email at e.cook@newsweek.com. 


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John Feng is Newsweek's contributing editor for Asia based in Taichung, Taiwan. His focus is on East Asian politics. He has covered foreign policy and defense matters, especially in relation to U.S.-China ties and cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan. John joined Newsweek in 2020 after reporting in Central Europe and the United Kingdom. He is a graduate of National Chengchi University in Taipei and SOAS, University of London. Languages: English and Chinese. You can get in touch with John by emailing j.feng@newsweek.com

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Didi Kirsten Tatlow is a Senior Reporter for International Affairs at Newsweek, based in Berlin. She reports on China and its interactions with the world as it seeks to rise to global preeminence with a focus on security, technology, politics and ideology, and international relations. Didi joined Newsweek after a stint at think tanks in Germany and Prague and following two decades of reporting at the New York Times, the Associated Press and the South China Morning Post, among others, much of it in China. She has won many awards including from the Overseas Press Club of America. A graduate of SOAS at the University of London, she can be reached at d.kirstentatlow@newsweek.com X: @dktatlow Languages: Fluent in Chinese, German, English

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Swedish authorities have seized a ship suspected of sabotaging an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea, shortly after NATO beefed up its presence in the area to shield its underwater infrastructure.

Why It Matters

This is the latest in a run of suspected sabotage incidents targeting vital undersea cables in the NATO-dominated Baltic Sea.

It comes just weeks after the alliance launched a new initiative, dubbed "Baltic Sentry," to shield critical NATO infrastructure like undersea cables against a "growing threat" in the region.

Unseen but crucial undersea cables prop up internet services and communications, as well as many other aspects of daily life that are often taken for granted. According to NATO, around 99 percent of the world's data runs through undersea cables, but they are vulnerable to attack, in what is known as hybrid warfare.

The Baltic Sea is largely surrounded by NATO member states, and is sometimes referred to as a "NATO lake," but Russia has a significant footprint there from its Kaliningrad exclave. Investigations are ongoing into the alleged role of Russian and Chinese vessels in damaging undersea cables.

Vezhen
The cargo ship "Vezhen" is anchored outside Karlskrona, Sweden, on January 27, 2025, for examination by Swedish authorities. JOHAN NILSSON/TT/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

What to Know

Sweden's security service said on Sunday that Stockholm had seized a vessel on suspicion of "aggravated sabotage." The security service confirmed to Newsweek that the vessel was the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Vezhen.

The vessel is owned by Hong Kong's Hai Kuo Shipping 2015B, according to online maritime database Equasis.

The shipping company itself belongs to a Chinese state-owned bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, according to Newsweek's review of an ICBC document published in 2024. It was among a series of 270 "ICBC consolidated entities" under the Hai Kuo Shipping name, according to the document.

ICBC and Hai Kuo Shipping could not be reached for comment.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said earlier in the day on X, former Twitter, that a data cable connecting Latvia to Sweden had been damaged in Sweden's exclusive economic zone, and a criminal investigation had begun.

"We are working together with our Swedish Allies and NATO on investigating the incident, including to patrolling the area, as well as inspecting the vessels that were in the area," Siliņa said.

Latvia's state-owned Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC), which operates the damaged cable, said it had "detected disruptions" in the section of the cable connecting its port city of Ventspils to the northern part of Sweden's Gotland Island early on Sunday. LVRTC said the cable was damaged roughly 130 kilometers (81 miles) from Ventspils, and was more than 160 feet) under the surface.

"It is presumed that the cable is significantly damaged due to external factors," the operator said.

In late December, Finnish authorities detained the Eagle S, a Russian oil tanker, after the Estlink 2 high-voltage power cable between Finland and Estonia was disrupted. Several telecommunications lines were also damaged in quick succession.

The previous month, a cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden was "cut," telecommunications firm Telia Lithuania said at the time, while another cable linking Finland and Germany was "severed," according to two NATO governments.

What People Are Saying

Sweden's security service in a statement: "Within the framework of the preliminary investigation, a number of measures have been taken, including the seizure of a ship suspected of having carried out the sabotage."

Siliņa said in a statement posted to X: "Authorities have intensified information exchange and started a criminal investigation."

What Happens Next

Investigations will continue into the suspected sabotage, led by Swedish authorities.

Update 1/29/25, 6:15 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

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About the writer

Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. military, weapons systems and emerging technology. She joined Newsweek in January 2023, having previously worked as a reporter at the Daily Express, and is a graduate of International Journalism at City, University of London. Languages: English, Spanish.You can reach Ellie via email at e.cook@newsweek.com. 


Writers Page
,

John Feng is Newsweek's contributing editor for Asia based in Taichung, Taiwan. His focus is on East Asian politics. He has covered foreign policy and defense matters, especially in relation to U.S.-China ties and cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan. John joined Newsweek in 2020 after reporting in Central Europe and the United Kingdom. He is a graduate of National Chengchi University in Taipei and SOAS, University of London. Languages: English and Chinese. You can get in touch with John by emailing j.feng@newsweek.com

Writers Page
and

Didi Kirsten Tatlow is a Senior Reporter for International Affairs at Newsweek, based in Berlin. She reports on China and its interactions with the world as it seeks to rise to global preeminence with a focus on security, technology, politics and ideology, and international relations. Didi joined Newsweek after a stint at think tanks in Germany and Prague and following two decades of reporting at the New York Times, the Associated Press and the South China Morning Post, among others, much of it in China. She has won many awards including from the Overseas Press Club of America. A graduate of SOAS at the University of London, she can be reached at d.kirstentatlow@newsweek.com X: @dktatlow Languages: Fluent in Chinese, German, English

Writers Page

Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine ... Read more