Russia was caught by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries secretly training to deploy new technology in the Arctic Ocean that can neutralize undersea cables without leaving traces. Although Russia did not actually damage any undersea cables, the West is wary that if it clashes with NATO in the future, Russia could attack undersea infrastructure essential for the internet and financial transactions.
According to Reuters on the 10th (local time), the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) under the Ministry of National Defense of Russia conducted a mock exercise this spring in the Arctic Ocean near Norway's Svalbard, deploying technology to neutralize undersea cables using deep-sea submersibles. The United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States carried out a joint operation to track the movements of Russian vessels and responded at sea, and the Russian side left the area without completing the exercise.
Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik said, "This operation sent a clear message that Russia cannot operate covertly," adding, "We made it clear to the Russian authorities that any attempt to target our critical infrastructure will be detected and will be met with a corresponding response."
◇ From the internet to satellite data: critical infrastructure built under the sea
The reason the West is reacting sensitively to Russia's moves is that undersea cables are the critical infrastructure that powers modern society. Undersea cables are communication networks that transmit internet data between continents. They are laid on or buried beneath the seabed and are only as thick as a garden hose, yet they play an essential role in global internet connections and financial transactions. Because of their economic and strategic importance, they were targets of attack during World War I and World War II.
Near Svalbard, identified as the site of Russia's exercise, there are two submarine fiber-optic cables connecting Svalbard to mainland Norway. Each is about 1,400 kilometers long and runs at depths down to 2,700 meters. These cables transmit massive amounts of satellite data downloaded at SvalSat, the world's largest satellite ground station. SvalSat is also part of NASA's Near Space Network.
Some U.S. intelligence officials are concerned that Russia may test NATO's collective defense system. Article 5 of the NATO treaty is the collective defense principle that treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all and triggers a joint response. Western officials believe that if Russia clashes with NATO, destroying undersea cables could be one of the key means.
The Ministry of National Defense of Russia did not respond to Reuters' inquiries on the matter. The Kremlin has consistently denied allegations that it is carrying out sabotage in NATO member states or planning a clash with NATO.
◇ Surge in "slow sailing" around undersea infrastructure, but Europe's defense capability is down
Another reason NATO is on high alert over undersea infrastructure is a recent rise in suspicious movements of ships around cables, gas pipelines, and power lines. According to Reuters, since 2023 there has been an increasing trend of so-called "drifting," in which ships sail slowly over or near sensitive undersea infrastructure to identify its location. Surveying undersea infrastructure in international waters is not illegal in itself. But security experts are wary that this kind of widespread collection of location information could be moves to prepare for future sabotage.
According to maritime risk analytics firm Windward, the number of ships engaged in such sailing in the North Sea last year was 13,079, up 52% from the year before. In the Baltic Sea, at least 11 undersea cables were damaged or cut from October 2023 to the end of last year.
With the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and other factors boosting demand for data and power, global networks of undersea communications and power cables are expanding, and the importance of undersea infrastructure is expected to grow further. The problem is that while dependence on undersea infrastructure is rising, the capacity to protect and restore it is insufficient. In its undersea cable security action plan last year, the European Commission assessed that with the current number and processing capacity of maintenance and repair vessels Europe possesses, it would be difficult to restore in time if key cables in multiple waters were attacked simultaneously.
Bruce Jones, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said, "Over the past 25 years, Europe has dramatically increased its dependence on undersea infrastructure while significantly reducing its capacity to protect it," adding, "Facing a surge in Russian threats, it is belatedly rebuilding that capability."