A prolonged game of cat and mouse has been unfolding over nearly a year in regions of the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Baltic Sea involving NATO allies and a Russian surveillance vessel, causing growing concern among European political and military leaders.
Simultaneously, there have been several instances of damage to underwater cables over the past two years, primarily in the Baltic region, with an incident occurring in July near Orkney and Banff in the U.K. The nature of these incidents, whether deliberate acts or accidents, is under investigation.
There is a consensus emerging that more measures need to be taken to safeguard the undersea infrastructure, which is vital for the global economy.
Last week, Germany’s armament secretary and navy chief visited Ottawa to confer with Canadian navy and defense officials on their initiative to introduce maritime drones, both surface and subsurface, as a means of enhancing security. According to Jens Plötner, the armament secretary, this presents a promising avenue for potential cooperation.
Remotely operated underwater vehicles are deemed essential for safeguarding the subsurface infrastructure, but the methods and responsibilities for doing so are subjects of ongoing debate.
The Yantar, a Russian research vessel believed by Western intelligence to be surveying undersea cables and infrastructure, has raised concerns by repeatedly appearing near these critical installations, notably in November and December 2024, drawing attention from Finnish and Swedish authorities.
Peter Sandwell, Sweden’s state secretary of defense, highlighted his country’s vigilance in monitoring potential threats in the Baltic Sea, emphasizing the need to secure critical underwater infrastructure against intentional or inadvertent risks.
In response to the escalating incidents, NATO initiated the Baltic Sentry mission in January to bolster its military presence and monitor threats to underwater infrastructure. Last month, this surveillance effort was reinforced by the deployment of the U.S. warship USS Bulkeley.
The war in Ukraine has spurred advancements in drone technology, with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, acknowledging the need for the West to catch up with Ukraine and Russia in remote technology development.
The Royal Canadian Navy is in the process of acquiring autonomous subsurface drones for detecting and neutralizing underwater mines, reflecting a trend towards modernizing defense capabilities.
Several Canadian firms are leading the way in marine drone technology, with companies like Seamor Marine Ltd. producing drones for various underwater applications such as aquaculture and infrastructure inspection.
Plötner emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in protecting undersea cables and critical infrastructure, suggesting that companies should play a significant role alongside governments in ensuring security.
A recent report from the U.K. Parliament’s joint committee on national security strategy highlighted skepticism within the cable industry regarding coordinated attacks, urging against complacency and emphasizing the government’s responsibility to prepare for potential high-risk scenarios.
