Finnish authorities seized the cargo vessel Fitburg on December 31, 2025, suspected of damaging an undersea telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn, marking a significant incident amid NATO’s Baltic Sentry operation aimed at protecting critical infrastructure against hybrid threats. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged ship, operated by a Turkish firm and en route from Russia to Israel, was found dragging its anchor, prompting an investigation into aggravated sabotage and telecommunications disruption. This incident underscores the vulnerability of global undersea communication networks, crucial for Indo-Pacific defense collaborations, highlighting the importance of international safeguards against potential state-sponsored disruptions. Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized the nation’s readiness to address these emerging security challenges decisively, while NATO acknowledged the deterrence role of Baltic Sentry amidst rising geopolitical tensions.