New Strategy Center publishes a new study entitled “Hybrid Frontlines: Russian Threats and the Future of Maritime Infrastructure in the Black Sea and the North Sea”, which analyzes the risks facing critical maritime infrastructure in two regions essential to European security: the Black Sea and the North Sea. The study highlights how the Russian Federation employs hybrid tactics — ranging from sabotage and cyberattacks to influence operations — to advance its geopolitical interests, undermining the stability and security of undersea energy and communication infrastructure.
This comparative research examines the responses of Romania and Norway — two NATO member states on the frontlines of this strategic competition — and offers concrete policy recommendations for strengthening the resilience of critical maritime infrastructure. The paper is part of the Strategic Initiative for Defending Critical Maritime Infrastructure (SIDMI) project, carried out in partnership with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and funded through the Bilateral Relations Fund 2014–2021, contract no. 17369/26.04.2024.
The authors of the study are Dr. Jakub Godzimirski, Research Professor at NUPI, and Sergiu Mitrescu, Program Director at the New Strategy Center. The paper was edited by George Scutaru, Chief Executive Officer of NSC.