Additional Coverage:
- Russia is signaling it could take out the West’s internet and GPS. There’s no good backup plan. (newsbreak.com)
Recent statements from Russian officials and NATO intelligence suggest that Russia may be targeting the vast network of underwater cables essential for global electronic communications. Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, indicated that these undersea cables are seen as legitimate targets, especially following suspicions of Western involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline explosion.
A report this month from the Center for Strategic and International Studies highlights the vulnerability of these fiber-optic cables, which are crucial for transferring international data. Notably, NATO’s intelligence chief, David Cattler, raised concerns in May that Russia might aim at these cables in retaliation for Western support of Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.
The potential disruption to these cables could severely impact internet services globally, affecting everything from communication to financial transactions. Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Sweden’s minister for civil defense, also reported tampering with a telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea this year, underscoring the severity of the threat.
Moreover, Russia’s actions are not limited to underwater cables. The country has also been accused of interfering with GPS systems, disrupting commercial aviation and posing significant risks to airlines’ operational safety. This forms part of what Melanie Garson from University College London describes as Russia’s “gray zone” tactics, which involve covert operations that don’t escalate to full-blown warfare.
Experts stress the increasing need for robust fallback plans and enhanced protections for these critical infrastructures. They warn that more significant international cooperation and legal frameworks are necessary to tackle potential sabotage, ensuring that countries can maintain operation even if key communication infrastructures are compromised.