Britain intends to restore Cold War-era defense system against Russian threat

Britain wants to restore its Cold War-era defense system against the Russian threat

Scottish officials say there is a need to restore the UK's military presence near the Shetland Islands to protect against potential Russian sabotage. In particular, concerns have mounted over the security of undersea communications cables in the North Atlantic and the country's modern spaceport.

Officials point out that Russia is using commercial fishing vessels operating above British undersea communications cables in the North Atlantic. In their view, these vessels can be used to monitor critical infrastructure and carry out potential acts of sabotage.

There are also claims that the rocket and satellite technologies being developed at the SaxaVord Spaceport on the island of Unst, located in the UK's northernmost region, could be in the sights of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Last month, Scottish First Minister John Swinney stated that the country was not sufficiently protected against threats from hostile foreign forces. However, during a visit to the north of the UK on Friday, Defence Minister Wes Streeting criticized his remarks, calling them irresponsible and unfounded.

On that same day, the Russian oil tanker "Vezuvian" was also spotted in the waters near Scotland.

Alistair Carmichael, a Liberal Democrat MP representing the Shetland Islands, noted that Russian fishing vessels are increasingly being seen near the Scottish coast and called for a permanent military presence of the British armed forces in the Atlantic Ocean.

In his constituency of the Shetland Islands, a nearby undersea cable was damaged in 2022, cutting off power supplies and leaving the islands in the dark for a time.

According to a recent analysis, Russian ships have been recorded more than 500 times near the undersea cables that carry a vast portion of international telecommunications. Sabotage of such cables could disrupt the country's vital infrastructure and even paralyze emergency services.

Carmichael urged the government to restore a "regular and targeted" military presence in the waters adjacent to the islands.

"During the Cold War, the Royal Air Force radar station at SaxaVord on the island of Unst was our country's northern line of defense. It was scaled down 20 years ago," the MP said.

Following these growing concerns, the UK government put forward proposals in a document published last week to introduce a new system of criminal penalties. Under it, individuals who damage undersea cables could face prison sentences.

However, Carmichael stressed that while such measures were proposed with good intentions, in practice they would be largely symbolic.

If Russia is prepared to send people armed with "Novichok" to Salisbury, the threat of facing a British court will not stop them, he said.

The MP also expressed concern that Putin might be interested in the activity in the Northern Isles, particularly the spaceport.

"We need to take any threat seriously. Especially at a time when we are considering the possibility of building a spaceport in the Shetland Islands for vertical rocket launches," Carmichael said.

In his view, the development of the SaxaVord Spaceport and its strategic importance require strengthening the region's security.