From the Baltic to the South China Sea, adversaries exploit ambiguity and technology to weaken Western resolve and challenge international norms.
A ship crosses the Baltic Sea at sunrise. 
In the middle of the night, with no witnesses, a single ship flagged out of Hong Kong drags its anchor across the Baltic Sea. In silence, it severs a vital gas pipeline and the digital cables that link northern capitals.
By morning, millions lose connectivity, financial transactions stall, and energy grids flicker on the edge.
Author's summary: Global security is being reshaped by gray zone operations.