Key Takeaways:

• Latvia has reached out to Sweden and NATO allies regarding the damage to an undersea data cable.
• Sweden's prosecutors launched a preliminary investigation into suspected sabotage and detained a vessel.
• Prior incidents have raised concerns about Russian involvement in similar underwater cable damages.

In a significant development regarding security in the Baltic Sea region, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has announced her government's efforts to collaborate with Sweden and NATO in investigating recent damage to an underwater data cable connecting Latvia to the Swedish island of Gotland. Siliņa indicated that this incident occurred in Sweden's Exclusive Economic Zone, with disruptions detected in data transmission earlier this week.

According to reports from Latvia's state-run radio and TV center, the Latvian operator LVRTC confirmed a rupture in the cable, indicating that it was likely due to external influences. The organization's communications head stated that “there is reason to believe that the cable is significantly damaged” and emphasized that operations continued using alternative transmission routes while repair efforts were underway.

As part of the investigation, Swedish authorities arrested a vessel identified as the Vezhen, which was reportedly navigating the vicinity of the damaged cable at the time of the incident. Experts from the Swedish Coast Guard and multiple governmental agencies are working together in the preliminary inquiry into aggravated sabotage.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed he has been in "close contact" with Siliņa during these developments and stated that the investigation is ongoing. This incident is amidst heightened tensions and a growing number of similar events over the past months, raising alarms regarding potential Russian sabotage in the strategically essential area.

Latvia's navy has also been active in patrolling the area, taking precautions as the risks associated with undersea infrastructure have garnered attention due to a history of damage incidents linked to Russia's aging tanker fleet evading sanctions. The NATO alliance, responsive to these threats, has recently increased its maritime presence in the Baltic, launching the Baltic Sentry mission aimed at enhancing surveillance and protecting vital undersea cables and pipelines.

This collaborative effort signifies a deepening commitment among Baltic nations to ensure the security of critical infrastructure in a period of rising geopolitical tensions in the region. For more details on the ongoing investigations, see the coverage from AP News and India Times.