Moscow and Beijing, seeking to disrupt and intimidate the West, have intensified their attacks on undersea data cables, forcing the United States and its partners to protect critical connections.
As Russia and the US debate Ukraine’s future, countries on the Baltic Sea are ramping up preparations for a military conflict amid fears that Russia is preparing for a future war with NATO.
"We take all reports of possible damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea very seriously," Sweden's prime minister said.
The bloc announced new steps to prevent threats to undersea lines after Sweden discovered damage to one east of Gotland island.
A contingent of U.S. Marines has deployed to coastal Finland to assist a NATO operation aimed at tracking down potential saboteurs in the Baltic Sea.