Sweden has officially asked China for cooperation in the investigation of the damage to two underwater communication cables in the Baltic Sea, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson said, quoted by "Reuters". broadcasts News.bg.
The incident and suspicions
The damage was recorded between November 17 and 18 and affected two important submarine cables: one connecting Finland and Germany, the other Sweden and Lithuania. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested that the case could be the result of sabotage.
The investigation focused on the Chinese cargo ship "I Peng 3" (Yi Peng 3), which left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15. According to a Reuters analysis of data from the MarineTraffic platform, the vessel was in the vicinity of the incident sites at the time of the alleged damage.
The Swedish reaction and the request to China
On November 26, Ulf Kristerson said Sweden was demanding the ship be returned to its waters to aid the investigation. On Thursday, the prime minister confirmed that a formal request had been made to China based on the evidence gathered.
„This shows our determination to find out what happened and establish the facts,” Christerson said.
Western intelligence agencies believe the Chinese ship was involved in the damage, but whether it was accidental or deliberate is still being debated.
The Chinese position
The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded that communication channels between Beijing, Sweden and other affected countries remain "open".
The case of sabotaged cables in the Baltic Sea is raising tensions in the region as Sweden and its partners seek clear answers. Cooperation with China will be key to establishing the circumstances and ensuring the security of critical infrastructure in the region.