The agreement on the security and protection of critical underwater infrastructure from foreign sabotage and attacks, signed by six countries bordering the North Sea, refers to uniform levels of security for maritime and underwater infrastructure. UNN writes about this with reference to Politico.
Details
The agreement, which was signed by Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, aims to strengthen cooperation to protect energy infrastructure and improve security in the region.
The North Sea is a driving force behind Europe's renewable energy and zero emissions ambitions, contributing to the continent's energy security. It is therefore crucial that we protect critical energy infrastructure here now and in the future
The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities has stated that the North Sea is becoming a center of critical infrastructure, connecting European countries through power cables, gas pipes and telecommunication lines.
"This means that cross-border interdependence is growing, and with it the risk of sabotage and unwanted attention from hostile actors," the ministry said.
According to the Danish ministry, under the new North Sea security agreement, the Nordic countries will review current safety and security measures, exchange information and knowledge, and report relevant information at the operational level. The agreement focuses mainly on "resilience and prevention" and complements NATO's work, Norway said in a statement.
Belgian Minister of Justice and the North Sea Paul Van Tigchelt said that the new agreement would ensure "the same level of security for maritime and underwater infrastructure across borders, rather than different levels of security from country to country.
Context
The publication writes that European countries have become increasingly wary of the vulnerability of their underwater infrastructure after the Nord Stream explosions in 2022, when two gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in the Baltic Sea were damaged by several explosions.
In October 2023, a gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia in the Baltic Sea was damaged in another incident, raising further concerns about underwater sabotage and hybrid attacks.