(London, Reuters) Arctic leaders have warned that the threat of hybrid warfare is spreading from the Baltic Sea to the far north, including attacks by countries like Russia that sabotage undersea internet cables.
The Financial Times reports that Denmark and Greenland plan to lay a new digital cable between the two countries, while the Faroe Islands are discussing a project to have the cable cross their territorial waters to enhance their ability to defend against potential attacks.
Faroe Islands Prime Minister Johannesson said, "When you're on an island in the middle of the North Atlantic, you're very vulnerable to attack. We currently have two communication cables, and if both are attacked simultaneously, we will lose all contact with the outside world."
The report indicates that the Arctic's remoteness and sparse population make it vulnerable to a hybrid threat that has emerged across Europe in recent months, including sabotage of internet and power cables in the Baltic Sea and violations of airspace. While no high-profile incidents have occurred in the region so far, officials suspect that some attacks may be taking place covertly.
A Danish member of parliament revealed that Greenland's current main undersea cable system has one section connecting to Canada and another to Iceland. If even one cable is cut, there will be no network for six to nine months, while building additional cables can ensure uninterrupted communication.
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The Danish government said last month it would spend $8.7 billion (about S$11.3 billion) to purchase F-35 fighter jets and strengthen Arctic security, including laying a new undersea cable to Greenland.
