BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO launched a new center Friday for protecting undersea pipelines and cables following the still-unsolved apparent attack on the Nord Stream pipelines and amid concern Russia is mapping vital Western infrastructure for energy and the internet in waters around Europe.
“The threat is developing,” Lt. Gen. Hans-Werner Wiermann, who heads a special cell focused on the challenge, said after NATO defense ministers gave the greenlight for the new center, located in Northwood, northwest London.
kAm“#FDD:2? D9:AD 92G6 24E:G6=J >2AA65 @FC 4C:E:42= F?56CD62 :?7C2DECF4EFC6] %96C6 2C6 96:89E6?65 4@?46C?D E92E #FDD:2 >2J E2C86E F?56CD62 423=6D 2?5 @E96C 4C:E:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 😕 2? 677@CE E@ 5:DCFAE (6DE6C? =:76[” 96 E@=5 C6A@CE6CD 2E }p%~ 9625BF2CE6CD 😕 qCFDD6=D]k^Am
kAm}p%~ H2D DAFCC65 :?E@ 24E:@? 27E6C 2? 2AA2C6?E 2EE24< @? EH@ q2=E:4 $62 82D A:A6=:?6D 😕 $6AE6>36C]k^Am
kAm%96 DFDA64E65 2EE24<D @? E96 }@C5 $EC62> ` 2?5 }@C5 $EC62> a A:A6=:?6D[ H9:49 H6C6 3F:=E E@ 42CCJ #FDD:2? ?2EFC2= 82D E@ v6C>2?J[ 2C6 DE:== 36:?8 :?G6DE:82E65] }@ 3=2>6 92D 366? @77:4:2==J 2EEC:3FE65[ 3FE }p%~ 92D 3@@DE65 :ED AC6D6?46 😕 E96 q2=E:4 2?5 }@CE9 $62D D:?46 E96?[ H:E9 5@K6?D @7 D9:AD[ DFAA@CE65 3J >2C:E:>6 A2EC@= 2:C4C27E 2?5 F?56CD62 6BF:A>6?E =:<6 5C@?6D]k^Am
kAmp3@FE g[___ <:=@>6E6CD Wd[___ >:=6DX @7 @:= 2?5 82D A:A6=:?6D 4C:DD4C@DD E96 }@CE9 $62 2=@?6[ 2?5 DJDE6>D[ ?6EH@C<D 2?5 8C:5D 2C6 :>A@DD:3=6 E@ H2E49 ac^f] pC@F?5 `__ 423=6 4FEE:?8 :?4:56?ED 2C6 C6A@CE65 6G6CJ J62C 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[ 2?5 :E 😀 @7E6? 92C5 E@ E6== H96E96C E96J 2C6 56=:36C2E6]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D ?@ H2J E92E H6 42? 92G6 }p%~ AC6D6?46 2=@?8 2=D@ E96D6 E9@FD2?5D @7 <:=@>6E6CD @7 F?56CD62 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[” }p%~ $64C6E2CJ\v6?6C2= y6?D $E@=E6?36C8 E@=5 C6A@CE6CD 27E6C 492:C:?8 E96 >66E:?8]k^Am
kAm“qFE H6 42? 36 36EE6C 2E 4@==64E:?8 … :?E6==:86?46[ D92C:?8 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 4@??64E:?8 E96 5@ED[ 3642FD6 2=D@ 😕 E96 AC:G2E6 D64E@C E96C6 😀 2 =@E @7 :?7@C>2E:@?” 23@FE D9:A >@G6>6?ED 2?5 >2C:E:>6 DFCG6:==2?46[ 96 25565]k^Am
kAm#2E96C E92? ECJ:?8 E@ H2E49 :E 2==[ E96 ?6H 46?E6C 2?5 }p%~ 2==:6D 2C6 7@4FD:?8 @? 9:89\C:D< 2C62D] !:A6=:?6D 😕 D92==@H H2E6CD E92E 42? 62D:=J 36 C624965 3J 5:G6CD 2C6 4@?D:56C23=J GF=?6C23=6] !@E6?E:2= 52>286 E@ 52E2 423=6D 42? 36 >:E:82E65 >@C6 62D:=J 3J D:>A=J 5C@AA:?8 😕 >@C6 423=6D]k^Am
kAm(92E6G6C E96 E2C86E[ }p%~ 36=:6G6D :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ 42E49 D23@E6FCD 2D E96J AC6A2C6 E96:C 2EE24<D]k^Am
kAm“%@ DFAA@CE E96 46?E6C[ 2==:6D 92G6 564:565 E@ D6E FA 2 4C:E:42= F?56CD62 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 ?6EH@C<[ 3C:?8:?8 E@86E96C }p%~[ 2==:6D 2?5 AC:G2E6 D64E@C 24E@CD] %9:D H:== 96=A E@ 96=A :>AC@G6 :?7@C>2E:@? D92C:?8 23@FE 6G@=G:?8 C:D<D 2?5 E9C62ED[” (:6C>2?? D2:5]k^Am
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
