Russia’s undersea naval activity is at record levels, and NATO is worried about a crucial lifeline to the world

• The US and NATO have noted increasing Russian naval activity around Europe in recent years.
• That activity, particularly the submarine component, has sparked concern about the vulnerability of undersea cables connecting the global economy.
• NATO and the US have responded, bolstering forces at sea and anti-submarine warfare efforts and shifting NATO commands.

Russian undersea naval activity in the North Atlantic has reached new levels, and NATO is worried that the undersea cables connecting North America and Europe and the rest of the world are being targeted.

“We are now seeing Russian underwater activity in the vicinity of undersea cables that I don’t believe we have ever seen,” US Navy Rear Adm. Andrew Lennon, commander of NATO’s submarine forces, told The Washington Post. “Russia is clearly taking an interest in NATO and NATO nations’ undersea infrastructure.”

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Featured image courtesy of the Russian Ministry of Defense