An ongoing strategic maneuver has been quietly unfolding over nearly a year in various maritime regions, including the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Baltic Sea, involving NATO allies and a Russian surveillance vessel. This development has sparked growing concerns among European political and military leaders. Simultaneously, there have been multiple instances of damage to underwater cables over the past two years, predominantly in the Baltic region, with a recent incident in July off the coast of Orkney and Banff in the U.K. The nature of these incidents, whether intentional or accidental, is under investigation, underscoring the need for enhanced protection of undersea infrastructure, which is vital to the global economy.
Addressing these concerns, high-ranking officials from Germany, including the armament secretary and navy chief, visited Ottawa last week to engage Canadian navy and defense authorities in discussions regarding the deployment of maritime drones, both on the surface and subsurface. Jens Plötner, the armament secretary, highlighted the potential for collaboration in this area. Remotely operated underwater vehicles are considered essential for safeguarding subsea infrastructure, although the responsibility for their deployment and operation remains a subject of active debate.
The Russian research vessel Yantar, suspected by Western intelligence of surveilling undersea cables and infrastructure, has been observed lingering near these critical assets, particularly in late 2024, drawing the attention of Finnish and Swedish authorities. Peter Sandwell, Sweden’s state secretary of defense, emphasized the importance of securing critical underwater infrastructure, citing incidents in the Baltic Sea that have raised concerns. 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. The mission was recently reinforced by the presence of the U.S. warship USS Bulkeley.
The conflict in Ukraine has served as a pivotal catalyst for advancements in drone technology, according to Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner for Defence and Space. Kubilius highlighted the need for Western nations to catch up with Ukraine and Russia in leveraging remote technology. The Royal Canadian Navy is procuring autonomous subsurface drones designed for mine detection and neutralization.
Several Canadian companies are at the forefront of marine drone technology, with Seamor Marine Ltd. producing drones for aquaculture, infrastructure inspection, and underwater exploration. Plötner expressed Germany’s aspirations to enhance its drone capabilities but raised concerns about the collaboration between defense and private sectors in safeguarding undersea infrastructure. Plötner emphasized shared responsibility between governments and private entities in protecting undersea cables and critical infrastructure, stressing the necessity of close civilian-military cooperation.
A recent report by the U.K. Parliament’s joint committee on national security strategy highlighted industry skepticism regarding coordinated attacks on undersea cables. While acknowledging the sector’s overall resilience, the report cautioned against complacency, urging adequate preparedness for low-probability, high-risk scenarios.
Overall, the evolving dynamics in maritime security underscore the imperative of proactive measures to safeguard undersea infrastructure and combat emerging threats effectively.