Norway, Germany seek Nato protection for subsea

Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today agreed to propose the creation of a Nato surveillance centre to protect subsea infrastructure.

They agreed that countries and industries need to share more information, while civilian and military organisations should work "more closely together" so "plans and security systems can be coordinated to prevent future sabotage" on the underwater networks that they said are vital for the European economy and security.

Store and Sholz will discuss the proposal with Nato secretary Jens Stoltenberg later today.

Norway's role as Europe's oil and gas supplier has increased, as the region seeks to wean itself off Russian supplies.

"Norway feels a special responsibility for security of natural gas supply in Europe. It is vital to maintain gas supplies," the statement reads. "Norway, together with its allies, has taken a number of steps to protect gas infrastructure."

Norwegian state-controlled Equinor yesterday said it picked army veteran Haakon Bruun-Hanssen as a new member of its board. The country sought to increase security at its onshore oil and gas facilities in October, on heightened concerns about the security of Europe's energy infrastructure. Oslo's offshore safety agency called for "increased vigilance" after unidentified drones or small aircraft were spotted near offshore facilities in late September.

This followed several explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines on 26 September. Swedish investigators have said the damage was linked to sabotage, after finding explosive residues near the lines. Danish police also concluded after an initial investigation that "powerful explosions" had extensively damaged the pipelines in Denmark's exclusive economic zone.

Gas deliveries through Nord Stream pipeline were already halted in early September, and sanctions against Russia have blocked Nord Stream 2 from coming on stream.

By Caroline Varin