NATO Allies Halt Russian Submarine Drills Near Svalbard — The Japan Times
NATO allies tracked Russian vessels in Arctic waters near Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in the spring. According to two Western officials, Russian submarines there were practicing the deployment of technology for covertly disabling undersea cables. The United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States carried out a joint operation: the Russian vessels were not allowed to complete the drills and then left the area.
Two Western officials told The Japan Times about this on condition of anonymity. According to them, the operation was conducted by Russia’s Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, an agency of the aggressor state known by the Russian abbreviation GUGI. It used deep-sea vehicles to simulate the deployment of technology whose operating principle the officials did not disclose.
Cables Near Svalbard
Russia did not damage any cables, and the drills simulated the deployment of technology in the event of a conflict with NATO, the publication’s sources claim. In April, the United Kingdom and Norway reported that they had detected covert Russian activity in Arctic waters. The UK Ministry of Defence also referred to April 9 statements about attempts by GUGI to conduct clandestine activity in or near Norwegian and British waters.
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Two 1,400-kilometer fiber-optic cables connect Svalbard to mainland Norway and run at depths of up to 2,700 meters. They transmit large volumes of satellite data uploaded at the SvalSat ground station, which is part of NASA’s Near Space Network.
Norway’s Response
Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik said the joint operation was intended to send Russia a clear signal that covert actions are impossible. According to him, Norwegian authorities also made it clear to the Russian side that any attempt to attack critical infrastructure would be detected and would have consequences.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not respond to a request for comment. The Kremlin has consistently denied carrying out sabotage in NATO countries or preparing for confrontation. Norway plans to lay a new fiber-optic cable by 2028 that will connect Svalbard and Jan Mayen Island with the mainland of the country.
