VILNIUS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania has urged the European Union to review existing navigation rules and provide financial support following the damage to a Latvia-Sweden fiber optic cable in the Baltic Sea on Sunday, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported Monday.

"Navigation rules in the Baltic Sea need to be reassessed, particularly regarding the use of anchors," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated on X on Sunday.

Budrys emphasized that the frequency of such incidents raises questions about whether they are truly accidental. He called for swift action and urged the European Commission to develop measures to strengthen the resilience of critical underwater systems.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas echoed these concerns on Monday, suggesting that the European Union should provide financial support to member states affected by potential sabotage. "Each of these incidents comes with a significant financial burden, and we need to discuss EU support for nations facing provocations or acts of sabotage," Paluckas noted.

He expects EU leaders to prioritize this issue at an upcoming European Council or EU Council meeting.

The damaged fiber optic cable, which belongs to Latvia's Latvia State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC), reportedly sustained external damage early Sunday morning. LVRTC spokeswoman Vineta Sprugaine confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.

This is the latest of several incidents in which underwater internet and energy cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea. Enditem

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