You may or may not have heard of the most recent cable
cutting incident involving a cable connecting Finland and Estonia in the Gulf
of Finland, off the Baltic Sea. A
Russian tanker is believed to have been responsible for the act, as described
in a Redstate website article.[1]
The proof of sabotage is pretty convincing as shown in the photo below which tracks the ship’s path as it crosses back and forth over the cable.
Finnish commandos boarded and seized an oil tanker Thursday that is believed to have temporarily disabled the Estlink-2 power line connecting Finland and Estonia. The vessel in question, the Cook Islands-registered Eagle S, was traveling from St. Petersburg to Port Said, Egypt. The Eagle S is thought to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" that smuggles Russian crude oil to market.[1]
The proof of sabotage is pretty convincing as shown in the photo below which tracks the ship’s path as it crosses back and forth over the cable.
 |
| Track of Russian ship showing back and forth movement over cable |
This was a deliberate act of sabotage against the infrastructure of Finland and the world at large, arguably an act of
war, and it was not a one time accident.
In each case, the Chinese have refused to cooperate in any investigation. Russia and China are at war with us, and the West, only we refuse to pull out heads out of the sand and see it. As a result, we’re losing the war.
I like that, in this case, Finland finally took some
moderately decisive action by quickly boarding the ship.
This also refutes the legion of Chicken Littles out there
who are terrified that sneezing in the direction of Russia or China will bring
nuclear escalation down upon us. Finland
seized the offending vessel and, shockingly, did not immediately get attacked
with nuclear weapons.
What is the lesson in all this? As the article’s author opines,
We are at war but it’s a one-sided war. We refuse to engage. That must change.
_______________________________
This is the fourth time power or telecom cables crossing the Baltic have been damaged by deliberate actions. In October 2023, a Chinese container ship damaged a gas pipeline and two telecom cables between Finland and Estonia by dragging an anchor across them … In November 2024, a Chinese ship disabled a 745-mile cable linking Germany and Finland and a 135-mile cable linking Lithuania and the Swedish island of Gotland, again by dragging an anchor across them.[1]
In each case, the Chinese have refused to cooperate in any investigation. Russia and China are at war with us, and the West, only we refuse to pull out heads out of the sand and see it. As a result, we’re losing the war.
The Finnish customs service said it had seized the vessel's cargo.[1]
What is the lesson in all this? As the article’s author opines,
The obvious collaboration of Russian-controlled and Chinese-registered vessels to damage the telecom and power grid running beneath the Baltic Sea threatens NATO and the EU. NATO must take this hybrid war being waged underwater seriously and develop equally serious strategies for combatting it. What can't be tolerated is China stepping in to block investigations and legal actions by affected countries.[1]
We are at war but it’s a one-sided war. We refuse to engage. That must change.
https://redstate.com/streiff/2024/12/26/finland-boards-russian-shadow-fleet-tanker-in-connection-with-damage-of-undersea-electric-cables-n2183645
Well, so was destroying gas pipeline Northern Stream in 2022.
ReplyDeleteThat was Putin...remember.
Delete"Well, so was destroying gas pipeline Northern Stream in 2022."
DeleteSince it has never been proven who did it (assuming it wasn't an accident - Remember the Maine!), what's your point?
I don’t know what his point was, but it strains credulity past breaking point to believe that the combined intelligence resources of the EU and NATO have in more than two years been unable to identify beyond reasonable doubt the state actor responsible for the greatest act of economic sabotage in history.
DeleteBut for obvious reasons knowing who did it and telling the public who did it are two different things entirely.
If there’s a lesson to be learned from the Maine it’s surely that in times like these we shouldn’t take what we read at face value, nor allow ourselves to be drawn into an unnecessary conflict by mendacious reporting by warmongering journalists.
If we had any balls, we could blockade the gulf of Finland between Helsinki and Tallinn. (88 mi. Roughly). Escort any known Russian ships ( merchant and naval) to the North Sea. Maritime and air surveillance can be used from there on as warranted.
ReplyDelete"If we had any balls, we could blockade the gulf of Finland between Helsinki and Tallinn."
DeleteSetting aside any political messaging, what do you see that accomplishing of military significance?
Militarily speaking, the Russian's are pretty much bottled up there in St.Pete. It's more of a political/economic act to make it a pain in the ass for them to move ships and goods thru the Baltic and beyond, including Kaliningrad. While you're at it you could probably close that enclave off to all military related items. Hmmm, wonder what kind of reaction that would provoke.
Delete"close that enclave off"
DeleteTake it a step further ... Why not exactly copy the Russian's gambit and have Poland declare that the residents of the enclave desire to align with Poland and have Poland annex it? Do it now while Russia is overextended and tapped out. There's nothing they could do militarily to resist.
One possibility would be to use it as a bargaining chip - give it back to Russia in exchange for Russia giving back Crimea and all its gains in Ukraine.
Food for thought!
Good idea. They are very vulnerable there, no land access and they don't have a prayer of re enforcement by sea. The Poles seem to be chopping at the bit to get at the Russians.
Delete"Finland boarding the ship was a dangerous escalation."
ReplyDelete-Chicken Littles
I kid, but I tire of this sort of rhetoric, whether it's in the Gulf of Finland, Persian Gulf, or South China Sea. Countering someone else's aggression is not an escalation. The aggressor is the one who committed the escalation.
I'm not sure when we started this whole "escalation is inherently bad" school of thought anyway. Sometimes, escalation is good and necessary. A brief skim of a history book reveals as much.
-Huskers1995
Seizing the ship and cargo at least has a bit of profit to it. But...maybe the sudden dissapearance of these offending ships (Ala Mk48, or others, locally produced and wielded) might be an appropriate response/counter...(??)
ReplyDeleteNo country has ever gone to war over a cut cable.
ReplyDeleteYour point being ... ?
DeleteNot going to war. Simply sinking a ship that's damaging a nations strategic property. It need not escalate, but if it does, it was the choice of the Russians/Chinese/whoever else...
Delete