Russian Naval Maneuvers Threaten Global Telecoms Infrastructure
Russian navy's presence increases in the Atlantic. According to the Portuguese navy, since the war in Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, 39 Russian warships have been detected in the area, including some that are believed to be espionage vessels.
Retired Portuguese navy commander, Joao Fonseca Ribeiro, pointed out the Russian fleet's interest in the Atlantic Ocean floor. He believes they are targeting the telecom cables that stretch across it. Experts think that by doing so, Russia aims to either destabilise the region or threaten the IT infrastructure of NATO countries.
Gen. Roman Polko on the Russian fleet's activity
Major General Roman Polko sees the Russian fleet's increased activity in the Atlantic as twofold. Firstly, it highlights Russia's desire to assert itself as a global power.
Russia aims to demonstrate its status as a major empire with a significant influence around the world. I think this revelation is positive as it shows that the issue extends beyond just the eastern flank," he told o2.pl.
Russia has earned a reputation for flouting norms, provoking tensions, and taking actions that could lead to severe consequences. These are all part of a show of strength, he added.
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The ex-GROM commander also highlights the threat to the undersea cables running along the Atlantic floor.
"The Russians have made it very clear. They know where the weakest link is – the critical underwater infrastructure, including the cables," Gen. Polko said.
He also noted Russia's broader ambitions. "Their intent to engage in warfare in space, potentially destroying satellites and hitting this crucial infrastructure, poses a significant risk and could disrupt multiple sectors. Given Russia's use of demographic tactics to destabilise the West, attacking critical infrastructure could also be in their plans. My understanding is that the Russian fleet might also be mapping out potential targets for disruption," he further explained.
The world's nervous system
Just as the marine trade routes that traverse from the Far East through the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal to Europe are termed the world's bloodstream, the optical fibers on the Atlantic floor, linking the United States to Europe, are considered the world's nervous system.
About 95 percent of international IT telecommunications travel through these undersea cables. Any damage could halt global communications, leading to devastating impacts on the global economy.
Destruction of these cables has been a concern for several years, especially following alarming incidents. This includes the appearance of the vessel Jantar in various global locations known for their underwater infrastructure.
Despite Russian claims that it serves as a research vessel, all signs suggest that Jantar undertakes espionage activities, supposedly "surveying" the seafloor, which actually involves deploying surveillance devices through unmanned vehicles. Yet, no evidence of harmful activities has been provided.
Incidents have already occurred, highlighting the risk to underwater infrastructure, such as the damage to the Nord Stream gas pipeline in September 2022 and the disruption of telecom cables between Estonia and Sweden in October of the same year.
