The first meeting of NATO’s new Critical Undersea Infrastructure Network took place at NATO Headquarters, with leading experts from across the Alliance in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to address the rising challenges to undersea infrastructure and to enhance the security of undersea cables and pipelines. NATO has long warned about the security of undersea cables, and recent incidents in the Baltic Sea have prompted Allies to increase naval patrols near critical subsea infrastructure.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of enhancing the security of undersea infrastructure, citing the increasing dependency of societies on these systems. He highlighted NATO’s unique military capabilities, vast intelligence network, and operational expertise as assets that can be leveraged to address threats to undersea infrastructure. Stoltenberg also mentioned Russia’s intensifying hybrid campaign against Allies as a driving force behind the need for increased security measures.
Participants at the meeting discussed various strategies to enhance information-sharing, situational awareness, and defense against threats to undersea infrastructure. They also explored the use of innovative technologies, such as sea drones, new sensors, and artificial intelligence, to improve infrastructure security and resilience. The Alliance is also focused on promoting technological innovation to better detect suspicious activity, particularly in the context of offshore wind farms that support the energy transition.
In February 2024, NATO Defence Ministers decided to establish the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Network and to create a Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure within NATO’s Maritime Command in Northwood, UK. The meeting was chaired by David van Weel, Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber, and included industry representatives, such as energy operators. Overall, the meeting was an important step towards strengthening the security of undersea infrastructure and ensuring the resilience of critical systems in the face of evolving threats.
