In a move that could have seismic implications for NATO’s strategic capabilities, two critical undersea communication cables in the Baltic Sea—lifelines of military coordination among NATO allies—were severed in what increasingly appears to be a calculated act of hybrid warfare. The timing of these incidents, coming mere hours after the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles against Russian targets, raises the unmistakable specter of a coordinated response by Russia, with China’s complicity, aimed at halting NATO’s ability to act decisively during a crucial moment in this escalating conflict.

The severing of these cables appears to be more than a mere act of sabotage. It may well represent a brilliant and calculated geopolitical move designed to delay NATO’s escalation until President Donald J. Trump, known for his aversion to endless wars and commitment to diplomacy, is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025. November 16, 2024: The Biden administration authorizes Ukraine to employ long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian targets, marking a significant escalation in the U.S.’s involvement in the war.

November 17, 2024: The first of two undersea cables, the BCS East-West Interlink connecting Lithuania and Sweden, is severed.

November 18, 2024: The C-Lion1 cable, which links Finland and Germany, is also cut.

The proximity of these events is impossible to ignore. Within 48 hours of the Biden administration’s decision, NATO’s communication capabilities were significantly disrupted in a strategic region critical to European and global security. Enter the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3. Anchored suspiciously in international waters near the sites of both cable cuts, this vessel has been identified as a potential actor in the disruptions. Investigators suspect the ship’s massive anchor, potentially weighing several tons, was deliberately dragged across the seabed, ripping through these vital cables.

Despite Sweden’s urgent requests, the ship has remained anchored in place, with no indication that China will permit it to move into Swedish waters for inspection. Nor has any authority been allowed to board the vessel. This steadfast refusal to cooperate heightens suspicions of China’s involvement in what could be a coordinated act of sabotage in league with Russia.

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