Baltic Pipe and Cable Incidents: Estonia Links Damage, China Assists in Probe

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has stated that the incidents involving damage to a gas pipeline and two telecom cables between Estonia, Finland, and Sweden are related. Finland has raised its risk assessment for gas supply security due to the damage to the Balticconnector Finland-Estonia pipeline, which could be out of commission until April or longer. Finnish police suspect the Hong Kong-flagged container carrier NewNew Polar Bear of damaging the gas pipeline. Two telecom cables were also damaged, and Tallinn is investigating the incidents. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether the incidents were accidental or deliberate, and NATO has increased patrols in the Baltic Sea.