Concerns are growing over the security of vital undersea cables connecting Greenland to Iceland and Canada, as experts warn of the increased risk of sabotage, particularly from Russia.
Critical Infrastructure in Danger
Deep beneath the surface of the North Atlantic lies two undersea cables crucial for connecting Greenland to Iceland and Canada. These cables provide essential internet and telephone connectivity for Greenlanders, making them vital to the territory’s communication with the outside world. However, despite their importance, these cables are notably vulnerable, and experts have raised alarms about the potential for sabotage by hostile states, particularly in light of recent geopolitical tensions.
Increased Sabotage Threats
Flemming Splidsboel, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, has emphasized that there is a clear and increasing threat of sabotage from Russian entities, particularly in the Arctic region. Russians have “a more coherent way of thinking about the Baltic Sea and the Arctic,” he stated, adding that “For them, there is a natural bridge between the two areas,” referring to the strategic interests the Russian military may hold in both areas. According to Splidsboel, Russia possesses the capabilities to effectively sabotage such cables, having developed mini-submarines capable of severing them.
Past Incidents Highlight Vulnerability
The significance of these cables was starkly illustrated in 2019, when multiple cables suffered technical failures and cuts. One incident involved a fishing trawler accidentally severing one of the cables, which cut off Greenland’s internet connectivity through Iceland for an extended period. Toke Binzer, CEO of Greenland’s telecommunications company Tusass, explained that although essential services and a few businesses maintained some connection, most residents faced internet outages lasting nearly six months. “We are very vulnerable to the submarine cables themselves because there are only two.” If both were disrupted, our communications would be severely impacted, he warned.
Call for Enhanced Focus on Infrastructure
With a looming election in Greenland and heightened concerns over foreign interference, experts like Toke Binzer argue that there should be a greater focus on critical infrastructure. The recent incidents in the Baltic Sea have drawn political attention. However, we do not see the same level of concern in the North Atlantic, even though our undersea cables there are equally at risk, he pointed out.
Additionally, Binzer expressed the limitations faced by Tusass, stating that the company cannot finance a third undersea cable on its own, nor can it monitor cables located in international waters. “We are reliant on those responsible for protecting the underwater infrastructure in Denmark,” he added.
Examining the Risks
Signe Ravn-Højgaard, director of the think tank Digital Infrastructure, has noted the precariousness of relying solely on two undersea cables for communication. Cables can break, experience technical failures, or be damaged by fishing trawlers, she stated. Such incidents are natural occurrences, and as these cables age, the likelihood of failure increases, Ravn-Højgaard explained, contrasting it with Denmark’s more robust infrastructure of around 20 undersea cables and numerous land-based connections. She highlighted that the risk of a complete communications breakdown is significantly higher in Greenland. Many everyday functions would cease without connectivity; businesses would struggle, and access to news or social media would be limited, she warned.
Revising Security Policies
The changing security landscape has prompted discussions at the highest levels of the Danish government. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged the increased threats to critical infrastructure, stating that we are now in a different security situation than we were before. He confirmed that the government intends to explore options for better protection of these vital connections.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s Foreign Minister, expressed concern for all critical infrastructure due to evolving threats. “We have lived for decades where there have been no real threats to it. There may have been some accidents and some weather phenomena, but the idea that someone could launch military attacks or semi-military attacks on our infrastructure has not been part of our worldview,” he explained.
Rasmussen further acknowledged that having an additional cable would reduce Greenland’s vulnerability. “If you have one wire and it gets cut, you are completely exposed. If you have two, you can cut one and still have some form of contact, and if you have five, you are even less vulnerable,” he stated.
While there remain significant challenges, both defense and foreign ministers recognize the urgent need to enhance the protection of Greenland’s undersea communication cables, ensuring resilience in a time of increasing geopolitical tensions.
