In the tide of geopolitical conflicts, a new battlefield has risen at the bottom of the sea, and the security of nearly 1 billion people is in jeopardy. Didier Maleterre, deputy commander of the NATO Alliance's Naval Command (Marcom), issued a warning that revealed the serious holes facing the underwater infrastructure of Europe and North America. From wind farms to pipes and cables, these vital lifelines are being attacked by hybrid warfare skillfully used by adversaries.
According to British media on April 16, Maleterre painted a gloomy picture of a global economic artery that was once hidden under the sea, now exposed to the manipulation of competitors. The reliance on underwater cables and pipelines, originally built without the rapid evolution of modern warfare tactics in mind, made Europe's power and communications networks extremely vulnerable to interference.
"We know that the Russians are engaged in a lot of hybrid warfare at the bottom of the sea, disrupting the European economy through cables, internet cables, pipelines. All our undersea economies are threatened," he said.
"And, to be very clear, we know that the Russians have developed nuclear submarines that can operate on the bottom of the sea. So we are not naïve, we (NATO countries) are working together. ”
Recent events, such as the suspected sabotage of the Baltic gas pipeline, are a warning of escalating threats. Despite a thorough investigation, the perpetrators remain elusive, leaving economic and strategic uncertainty. Maleterre stressed the urgency of increased vigilance, stressing that the responsibility for protecting critical infrastructure ultimately falls on the countries themselves.
However, the sheer scale of the challenge makes the integrated surveillance capabilities of any single entity seem overwhelming. Acknowledging the limitations of NATO's coverage, Maleterre stressed the need for cooperative efforts between member states. Countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark have strengthened their defenses, deploying advanced technologies, from drones to unmanned underwater vehicles, in order to detect and deter potential threats.
Maleterre, a submariner who said he had "spent more than 1,000 days under the sea," said that because much of the current infrastructure was first developed by the private sector, the environment has changed dramatically, making it extremely vulnerable.
"They (the company in charge of them) did not know that this hybrid war would develop so quickly. More than 90% of the internet is located at the bottom of the sea. All the connections between our U.S., Canada, and Europe are transmitted under the sea, so there are a lot of loopholes. ”
He said that despite the growing role of offshore wind in meeting climate goals, there are still "systemic vulnerabilities" in the infrastructure. According to the European Wind Power Industry Association, offshore wind will need to increase by 25% by 2050 to meet the EU's wind capacity target, while the Biden administration wants to deploy 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind along the U.S. coastline by 2030.
In response to escalating risks, NATO is preparing to set up a dedicated center at Marcom's headquarters in the United Kingdom, signaling a concerted effort to address underwater security issues. With the help of artificial intelligence and satellite technology, NATO aims to enhance its ability to detect suspicious activity early and strengthen its defense against hybrid warfare tactics.
"This is a very important issue because it concerns the security of civilians in almost a billion NATO countries. We need the protection and good supply of vital seabed infrastructure. He said.
Maleterre said it's crucial to be able to identify the attackers behind a hybrid attack, but he acknowledges that it can be challenging, comparing it to tracking down the perpetrators of a cyberattack.
"I can't give details if the Russians use very high-pressure capabilities, but we're talking about submarines and nuclear submarines. That's going to be very difficult," he said.
It is noteworthy that last year Finland joined the NATO fleet, and recently Sweden became a full member of NATO in March, which is especially important for the protection of the Baltic and Arctic regions. Sweden's experience in these two regions "will immediately enhance NATO's ability to detect and deter aggression in any region."
"When we talk about aggression, we obviously think of Russia," Maleterre added. Sweden's accession, in particular, has brought submarines, mine warships, special forces and fast, powerful ships, he said.