Arctic’s Undersea Data Cables, Mid-Century Arctic Conflict and Indigenous Perspective in International Relations.

Exploring the Arctic’s Undersea Data Cables: Risks and Recommendations

The report "Arctic Seabed Warfare Against Data Cables: Risks and impact for US critical undersea infrastructure " by Mathieu Boulègue at The Wilson Center 's Polar Institute?was published this week..

The report examines the growing threat to undersea data cables, particularly in the Arctic region, and the implications for US national security. It specifically focuses on:

• ·The nature and vulnerabilities of undersea data cables and their critical role in global communication and military operations, while also emphasizing their susceptibility to accidental and intentional damage.
• Russian and Chinese seabed warfare activities: Detailing their interest and capabilities in cable disruption, including intelligence gathering and physical sabotage.
• ·Policy recommendations for the US and NATO

The report provides several examples of suspected sabotage against undersea data and communication cables:

1.??? The Lofoten-Vester?len (LoVe) Ocean Observatory Incident (2021): This incident involved "extensive damage" to fibre optic and electric cables connected to an underwater facility in northwestern Norway.

2.??? The Svalbard Undersea Cable System Incident (January 2022): This incident involved damage to a deep-sea fibre optic cable connecting the strategically important Svalbard archipelago to mainland Norway.

3.??? The SHEFA-2 Cable Incident (October 2022) damaging the SHEFA-2 data cable connecting the Shetland Islands

4.??? The Balticconnector and Baltic Sea Cables Incident (October 2023): This incident significant damage occurred to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and two separate fibre optic cables running between Estonia, Finland, and Sweden.

Policy recommendation form this report advocate for a multi-pronged approach that includes strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing cooperation between governments and industry, investing in surveillance and deterrence capabilities, and developing comprehensive strategies to address this evolving security challenge.

The report is written to inform US policymakers about the security risks posed by potential adversaries to critical undersea infrastructure, with an emphasis on the Arctic region. It aims to provide insights for crafting effective countermeasures and deterrence strategies to protect data cables and ensure the resilience of US communication and military operations.

Together with Bjorn Ronning we have studied the topic of Arctic subsea data cables for a while. Further reading

ARCTIC CABLES: Digital Sovereignty and Geopolitics

Geopolitics of Subsea Cables in the Arctic

Data centers as critical infrastructure in the Arctic

Development of Data Centres in the Nordic Arctic

Mid-Century Arctic Conflict: A Forecast

Political analyst Andrey Koshkin, head of the department of political analysis and socio-psychological processes at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics,predicts a potential armed conflict between the US and Russia in the Arctic within the next 20-25 years. The reason for conflict political analyst sees that nations are vying for control over the Arctic's vast natural resources, including rare-earth elements and hydrocarbons.

"I think that in the middle of the century, there will be very active actions to seize territory in the Arctic and to develop these territories in the interests of the states, and today this is the basis for the growth of tension in the region." says Political Analyst Andrey Koshkin,

The article suggests that both nations are preparing for potential armed conflict and are engaging in a strategic competition for control of the Arctic. (Source: here )

Special Economic Zone in Russian Arctic

Yuri Trutnev, the Deputy Chairman of the Government and Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District (DFO), announced the implementation of over 880 investment projects in the Arctic region of Russia. He highlighted that a special economic zone has been established in the Arctic, within which more than 880 investment projects are being implemented, 230 enterprises have already been put into operation, and 16,000 jobs have been created.

Trutnev noted that Russia’s pivot to the East has brought new opportunities and challenges for both the Arctic and the entire country. The “Arctic - Regions” forum will take place in Arkhangelsk on August 8-9. The event is organized by the government of the Arkhangelsk region, co-organized by the company “NEVA-International” (Source: here )

If you are interested in learning more about special economic zone creation in the Russian Arctic, you can read more about it in my article Constructing the Russian Arctic as a Special Economic Zone

Canadian foreign policy analysis and Inuit within Canada

Evgeniia (Jen) Sidorova, PhD article " Canadian foreign policy analysis and Inuit within Canada " examines the lack of Indigenous perspectives within Canadian foreign policy analysis, particularly concerning Inuit views on international relations in the Arctic. Sidorova argues that despite Canada's recognition of Inuit participation in Arctic affairs, Canadian foreign policy remains largely state-centric and overlooks the distinct worldviews of Inuit communities

The Inuit understanding of sovereignty contrasts sharply with the Western, state-centric perspective. While the Western perspective views sovereignty as an expression of a state's power and autonomy within its defined territory, the Inuit concept is not bound by territorial borders, nor is it focused on control or power over others. Instead, Inuit sovereignty centres around responsibility to the environment and its life-giving gifts, existing within the processes of interaction between spaces of dependence and engagement. This suggests a more holistic and reciprocal relationship with the land, emphasising stewardship and interconnectedness rather than control.

More specifically, the author argues that Canadian foreign policy analysis should develop a separate field of trans-Indigenous IR scholarship in the Arctic, based on decolonial theory and Indigenisation. The article suggests this is particularly important because existing Canadian foreign policy analysis largely ignores the visions and opinions of Indigenous Peoples on foreign policy. The author stresses that Inuit in Inuit Nunaat have their own distinct vision on decolonisation and Indigenisation that should be considered.

• Existing IR theories do not account for the impact of colonialism.
• State-centric views of international relations do not reflect Inuit perspectives.
• Inuit worldviews offer alternative ways of understanding key IR concepts. The author explains how Inuit understandings of concepts such as power, sovereignty, security, international cooperation, and diplomacy differ from Western perspectives

The unique context of Inuit transnationalism demands a different analytical approach. It is argued that, because Inuit in Canada operate transnationally, their relations with other Inuit and Indigenous Peoples are shaped by factors such as Indigenous philosophies and the ongoing pressures of colonialism.

?Hope you enjoyed reading this issue of Arctic highlights! Have a great weekend!

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Yours,

Alexandra Middleton