On the fringes of the NATO defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and his Norwegian counterpart Bjørn Arild Gram agreed to expand NATO’s role in protecting critical underwater infrastructure. This is part of an initial initiative. Norway and Germany are thus expanding a joint initiative from 2022.
Specifically, the proposal envisages expanding the Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI) to include regional ‘CUI hubs’ for five maritime areas. Consequently, locations with the respective areas of responsibility Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea are envisaged. These centres can be operated by one or more NATO member states in accordance with Germany and Norway. The operational focus of the regional centre should be on monitoring the adjacent underwater infrastructure. In addition, the CUI hubs should contribute to improving the situation picture in the underwater dimension with their specific regional expertise.
In this context, Norway and Germany offered to establish a CUI hub in the far north and in the Baltic Sea.
‘Hybrid attacks on critical underwater infrastructure are a significant threat to our economy, our communications, our energy supply. Norway and Germany have made proposals to build on this initial initiative and further strengthen NATO’s role in protecting critical undersea infrastructure. Bjørn Gram and I agree that maritime security is essential for us. Not only for us, but for all NATO partners. We invite the Allies to join our initiative and contribute their unique maritime expertise and capabilities in a 360-degree approach,’ said Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius (SPD).