Topic: Undersea Cables

Military tensions are rising in the Baltic Sea, specifically around the Suwalki Gap and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Concerns are raised regarding the vulnerability of undersea fiber-optic cables, such as those in Svalbard, Norway, which could be targeted in a non-kinetic conflict. The geopolitical situation is also linked to the high price of natural gas and the status of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Israel and Cyprus have agreed to lay a 1,500-kilometer undersea cable to transmit 2,000 megawatts of electricity. Amidst this diplomatic cooperation, an Israeli citizen, Moshi Harel, was arrested in Cyprus on decade-old charges of organ trafficking in Kosovo. The hosts note the "coincidence" of these two stories appearing simultaneously in the news.

The New York Times reports that Russian ships are operating near critical undersea data cables, causing concern for U.S. officials. The hosts argue this is "pre-blaming" Russia for potential future cable cuts, while also noting a Times story that blames Putin for the surge of Syrian refugees into Europe.

Hillary Clinton meets with the Foreign Minister of Cyprus to discuss "regional issues," which the hosts interpret as the development of the Leviathan gas field. The Nabucco pipeline project is declared dead, replaced by plans for the world's longest undersea power cable connecting Cyprus to Europe. This "energy bridge" is intended to transport 2,000 megawatts of power at extreme depths to bypass traditional land routes.

The Nabucco pipeline project to the Caspian Sea is declared dead as plans emerge for a 540-mile undersea power cable. This "energy bridge" would transport 2,000 megawatts of power between Asia and Europe at a depth of 2,000 meters.

Reports from Wired indicate that multiple undersea cables in the Mediterranean have been severed, causing massive internet and phone service disruptions. Countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and India have reported significant packet loss and service outages. The Maldives reportedly lost 100% of its connectivity due to the damage to the SEA-ME-WE 4 cable system.

A listener query connects the recent cutting of multiple undersea internet cables to the U.S. military shooting down a malfunctioning spy satellite. The theory suggests these events might be a coordinated demonstration of American power to disrupt communications and prove anti-satellite capabilities following similar tests by China.