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Russia warns of a US attack. This could affect completely new parts of the infrastructure. Could the US attack deep-sea cables?
Moscow – It was only in August that the debate about the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines gained new momentum. New information had pointed to a suspect with connections to Ukraine. But now a new front is opening up in the battle for underwater structure. The important deep-sea cables, part of the critical infrastructure, could become a target.
Putin’s ally warns of attack on deep-sea cables – and takes a deep look
An important ally of the Kremlin leader Wladimir Putin had issued a warning that the US and the UK were allegedly planning to damage undersea cables. This is intended to disrupt international data networks and destabilize maritime energy trade. This was stated by Nikolai Patrushev, who previously sat on the Russian Security Council and was later appointed chairman of the Russian Maritime Authority.
Image montage of Vladimir Putin and a Russian submarine (symbolic photo). Russia warns of a US attack. This could affect completely new parts of the infrastructure. Could the US attack deep-sea cables? © IMAGO / ITAR-TASS Vyacheslav Prokofyev & IMAGO / SNA Vadim Savitskii
In an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant Patrushev also repeated the unsubstantiated statement that the USA and the UK were also responsible for the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines. An investigation revealed that it could have been sabotage, but it is still not clear who planned and carried out the attack. “American and British special operations forces” would have the personnel and equipment to mount such an attack. This serves “to promote their economic interests”.
NATO warns of attack on deep-sea cables – but from Russia
Patrushev’s statement had already caused amusement on the Telegram news network. “That would be funny, but such statements often sound like a cover-up for one’s own intentions,” quoted Newsweek a user. The web portal also tried to obtain statements from the US State Department and the British Foreign Office – without success.
There is indeed reason to be concerned about such attacks, or so she thinks Nato. She had already warned in late summer of possible submarine attacks by Russia on deep-sea cables. The news channel CNN had also reported, citing US officials, that Russia is setting up a special sabotage unit that will use drones and submarines – and whose target is underwater infrastructure. The Russian GUGI, an agency for deep-sea research that reports to the Russian Ministry of Defense, is said to be involved here.
A comment made by Putin’s confidant in 2023 shows how much Russia has already dealt with a possible attack on this infrastructure Dmitry Medvedev. He had indicated that nothing could stop Russia “from destroying the deep-sea cables on the seabed that serve the communications of our enemies.” The Atlantic Council think tank had warned: Many submarine cables, important components of the global underwater infrastructure, are unguarded and their positions are publicly visible. NATO is currently in the process of ramping up new defense measures for such deep-sea cables.
Deep sea cables as critical infrastructure – the core of the digital world could be at the mercy of Russia
If Russia succeeds in actually attacking Western deep-sea cables, they could effectively attack the European Internet. As the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) stated, these cables are critical to almost all aspects of trade and business connections. One of the larger international banks is said to move around $3.9 billion through these cables every business day.
For example, the deep sea cables enable access to user data from a variety of services located on servers in a variety of countries. This includes email services, cloud servers or app data. Without these cables, access to all of this would no longer be possible. Taiwan has repeatedly struggled with massive internet and power outages; it had often accused China of damaging the cables. Defense experts have been warning about a possible Russian attack for years. The West would have little interest in these cables being destroyed.
