NATO ministers propose bolstering protection of critical underwater infrastructure
By
Elías Thorsson
-
October 23, 2024
26
Last week, NATO defense ministers met in Brussels to advance efforts on deterrence and defense, reports High North News. A key development was a joint proposal from Norway and Germany to bolster the protection of critical underwater infrastructure.
- Norway and Germany’s defense ministers signed a joint statement to enhance NATO’s role in safeguarding critical underwater infrastructure.
- The proposal includes creating regional hubs for the Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI), launched by NATO in May.
- These hubs would focus on maritime areas like the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea.
- Norway offers to lead the CUI Hub for the High North, while Germany will take responsibility for the Baltic Sea.
- The initiative builds on prior proposals by Norwegian and German leaders, driven by increasing threats to undersea infrastructure from manned and unmanned vehicles.
- Recent sabotage of undersea energy pipelines and communication cables highlights the growing risk of attacks on critical infrastructure.