NATO has strengthened its security to safeguard undersea infrastructure, since a suspected sabotage in January this year in the Baltic Sea. The alliance now deploys air and naval patrols, and warns that attacks will not go unpunished.

A lot of what we rely on to for our daily lives lies under the sea, such as power lines, data cables and pipelines.

These could be prone to suspected sabotage attacks particularly in the North and Baltic Seas according to NATO which has increased its security in the area after a suspected sabotage attack in January and in previous years.

These systems carry gas, electricity, more than $10 trillion in daily financial transactions, and 95% of global internet traffic, making them essential for energy supply, finance, communications, and trade.

Damage to these networks could cut power, disrupt the internet, halt financial operations, and affect shipping, marking them as a high-priority target for protection.

But this year, NATO has stepped up its surveillance with enhanced air and naval patrols. Ships that pass near key sites are monitored and questioned if suspicious, while pipelines and cable-s are checked using sonar, drones, and divers.

This is not the first time such incidents have occurred. Previous damage has been reported in various locations, and similar operations were announced by NATO earlier this year.

A new centre has been set up in Northwood in the UK, within NATO’s maritime command to protect critical undersea infrastructure, to facilitate operations and to send forces to protect these critical systems. It's all managed by a special team at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
 

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