From Foreign Policy · John Kampfner · · 1m 40s
Undersea War: Cables Under Threat
Russia's shadow fleet cuts global internet cables in a silent war.
In brief
Russia's shadow fleet cuts global internet cables in a silent war. Russia's 600 ships threaten global internet cables, causing communication breakdowns. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Finnish Navy Prepares
Finnish navy vessels patrol the Gulf of Finland and archipelago near Russian, Estonian, and Finnish borders.
Russia Tests Limits
Russia constantly tests how far it can go in the gray zone of almost-war.
Shadow War Term
The preferred term for hybrid warfare is shadow war, encompassing actions undermining liberal democracy.
Undersea Cable Threat
Undersea cables carry 95 to 99 percent of global internet traffic and are vulnerable to damage.
Cable Vulnerability
Cables take squiggly paths and are sometimes precariously perched, described as a spider’s web.
Matsu Islands Crisis
Matsu Islands lost internet on Feb. 8, 2023, after an underwater cable snapped.
Cable Repair Delay
It took nearly two months to repair the Matsu Islands cable and restore services.
Russia's Shadow Fleet
Russia deploys at least 600 ships, including old tankers from developing countries.
Cable Damage Causes
Cables can be damaged by natural causes, submarines, or malicious actors.
GPS Evasion Tactics
Russia's ships manipulate GPS signals to avoid detection and track naval vessels.
Cable Incidents
Braw details incidents involving Balticconnector, Nord Stream, C-Lion1, Arelion, and Elisa cables.
Matsu Islands Impact
Matsu Islands' 13,000 inhabitants faced digital blackout after cable snapped.
Trump's Mining Order
Trump signed an executive order allowing deep-sea mining for rare-earth materials in 2025.
Merz on War Definition
Chancellor Merz said war involves fluid transitions between peace and conflict, not digital zeros and ones.
Here's the gist
Russia's 600 ships threaten global internet cables, causing communication breakdowns.
