An ongoing game of hide-and-seek has been quietly unfolding for nearly a year in various parts of the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Baltic Sea between NATO allies and a Russian surveillance vessel. This situation has raised concerns among European political and military officials.
In parallel, there have been multiple incidents of damage to underwater cables over the past two years, primarily in the Baltic region, with a recent occurrence off Orkney and Banff in the U.K. Whether these incidents are intentional attacks or accidental remains under investigation. However, there is a growing consensus on the need to enhance the protection of undersea infrastructure, which is vital for the global economy.
In line with this, Germany’s armament secretary and the head of the country’s navy visited Ottawa last week to confer with Canadian navy and defense officials regarding their plans to introduce maritime drones, both on the surface and underwater. Jens Plötner, the armament secretary, remarked that this avenue presents a promising opportunity for cooperation.
The deployment of remotely piloted underwater vehicles is considered essential for safeguarding underwater infrastructure, but the methods and responsibilities involved are subject to ongoing debate. The Russian research vessel Yantar, suspected by Western intelligence of surveying undersea cables and infrastructure, has drawn attention by lingering near these cables, particularly in November and December 2024, prompting scrutiny from Finnish and Swedish authorities.
Sweden’s state secretary of defense, Peter Sandwell, who recently met with Canadian defense officials in Ottawa, emphasized the importance of securing critical underwater infrastructure, citing incidents in the Baltic Sea that have raised concerns. Responding to the escalating incidents, NATO initiated the Baltic Sentry mission in January to bolster its military presence and monitor threats to underwater infrastructure, further reinforced last month with the presence of the U.S. warship USS Bulkeley.
Discussing technological advancements, the European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, highlighted the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on drone technology. He underscored 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 underwater drones designed to detect and neutralize underwater mines. Several Canadian companies are at the forefront of marine drone technology, with Seamor Marine Ltd. producing drones for various applications such as aquaculture and underwater infrastructure inspection.
In navigating the defense-private sector interface concerning the protection of undersea cables and critical infrastructure, Plötner emphasized the shared responsibility between governments and companies. He stressed the necessity for close civilian-military cooperation to address these challenges effectively.
A recent report from the U.K. Parliament’s joint committee on national security strategy highlighted skepticism among some cable industry players regarding the risk of coordinated attacks. While acknowledging the sector’s overall resilience, the report urged against complacency and emphasized the government’s duty to prepare for potential high-risk scenarios.
The link to the original article can be found [here](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/undersea-cables-pipelines-drones-1.7653832).
