The Baltic Sea – a beloved vacation destination for many. But for Europe, it is much more: a vital lifeline. Beneath its waters lie data cables and pipelines that connect millions of people across Europe to the internet, energy, and information. But this crucial infrastructure is increasingly under attack.
In November 2024, two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea were destroyed – one connecting Finland and Germany, the other linking Lithuania and Sweden. These incidents are not isolated. Sabotage targeting undersea cables, pipelines, and other critical infrastructure is becoming alarmingly frequent. The damage is enormous: over 95% of global internet traffic goes through these cables. When they are cut, it can destabilize the digital and economic backbone of entire countries.
What is critical infrastructure – and why does it matter?
Critical infrastructure is the backbone of our modern society: electricity and water supply, hospitals, emergency services, transport systems, and communication networks – without them, nothing works. Undersea cables are especially sensitive, connecting and enabling everything from online banking to streaming your favorite shows. When this infrastructure is attacked, it affects all of us: power outages, communication breakdowns, and massive economic losses are just some of the potential consequences.
Who is behind these attacks – and what do they want?
These attacks are no coincidence. They are part of so-called “grey-zone tactics”. Countries like China are testing our response capabilities without engaging in open military conflict. The goal? To destabilize Europe and expose our vulnerabilities. We have seen such strategies before in regions like the South China Sea. Now, Europe is a target of these provocations.
How are we responding?
Europe has reacted – but not decisively enough. One important step has been establishing NATO’s Baltic Sea Task Force in Rostock, which coordinates defense efforts in the region and provides a shared operational picture. But this alone is not enough.
In the European Parliament, I have called for stronger protections and collective action. Our security is a shared responsibility. We need clear plans, greater investments in infrastructure protection, and a united European response to these threats.
My plenary speech:
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More InformationWhy the Baltic Sea is so important
Our responsibility: defending Europe’s infrastructure
These attacks make one thing clear: talking about threats is not enough – we need action. Europe’s resilience starts with protecting its infrastructure. It is our responsibility to close these vulnerabilities and stand united against hybrid threats.
Securing the Baltic Sea is not just important for politicians – it affects every one of us. Without functioning data cables, energy supplies, and communication networks, our entire way of life could come to a halt. Together, we must ensure that acts of sabotage have no chance to succeed.
