Media: NATO's undersea cables in North Sea vulnerable to Russian sabotage

The North Sea is "very unprotected" and vulnerable to possible Russian sabotage attempts on critical undersea infrastructure NATO nations heavily rely on, according to a senior Dutch military official.

Moscow's presence in the North Sea has increased, "and so the threat as well," said Rear Admiral Paul Flos, one of the founding members of the multinational Seabed Security Experimentation Center (SeaSEC) set up in The Hague to protect underwater infrastructure.

The North Sea is "very much" at risk from Russian activity, Flos told Newsweek, adding: "They're not there because they like our waters."

According to the publication, ensuring the security of undersea cables and pipelines poses a significant challenge for NATO, as the majority of these networks are operated by private companies.

NATO official Floss described the situation as "extremely complex," emphasizing the urgent need to "strengthen cooperation with industry representatives at all levels."

Experts cited in the report estimate that disabling power transmission cables could result in daily losses of around $14 million, while disruptions to pipeline operations could cost tens of billions of dollars.

By Khagan Isayev