London reveals covert Russian submarine operation near its waters

BarcelonaThe war fronts are multiplying everywhere while Donald Trump continues to belittle NATO and opens wars from which he cannot emerge afterwards. In a context of growing global tension, this Thursday the British government revealed that Russia carried out a covert submarine operation in the North Atlantic, in waters near the United Kingdom, for more than a month. A month in which, as in the best moments of the Cold War, Russians and Westerners played the cat-and-mouse game. Because the Russian submarines were being watched at all times: the British frigates were responsible for making it evident.

From the United Arab Emirates, where he arrived this morning on a tour of the Persian Gulf, Premier Keir Starmer said that he "will not shy away" from taking measures against Moscow to protect the country's interests and security.Defense Minister John Healey explained from Downing Street that three Russian submarines – an Akula-class attack submarine and two specialized deep-sea operation vessels linked to the Russian underwater research directorate (GUGI) – operated in areas close to the British exclusive economic zone and in allied waters. It is not the first time that Russian fleet assets have been lurking in the territorial waters of the United Kingdom or its European allies.During his appearance, Healy warned Russian President Vladimir Putin:

Healy also sent a subtle message to the President of the United States, reminding him that the operation demonstrated why it is "not in the United Kingdom's national interest" to deploy large parts of its naval force in the Middle East. During the war against Iran, Trump had ridiculed Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the British fleet for refusing to patrol the Strait of Hormuz. The Republican called some of the British ships "toys".

According to Minister Healey, the operation was "long, complex and substantial" and was carried out in collaboration with allies such as Norway. "For over a month we have tracked every movement of Russian submarines," he stated, emphasizing that surveillance was maintained 24 hours a day.

Critical infrastructure under surveillance

Russian submarines focused their activity on submarine infrastructures considered vital, such as telecommunication cables and gas pipelines. These facilities are essential for the British economy: approximately half of the country's gas arrives through submarine pipelines and a huge part of trade – valued at trillions of pounds – depends on telecommunication data transmission cables. Despite the concern expressed, Healy has assured that there is no evidence of damage. "We believe that no impact has occurred, but we will verify it with our allies," he indicated.

The minister also wanted to emphasize that Russia represents "the main threat" to the security of the United Kingdom and NATO. And in another warning to Trump: he insisted that London will not divert attention to other conflicts, such as the one in the Middle East, to the detriment of vigilance over Moscow. Because according to the British government, the Russian operation could have sought to take advantage precisely of the international focus on the conflict with Iran to act with less scrutiny. “Putin would want us to be distracted”, Healey said.

British authorities interpret Moscow's new incursion as an example of hybrid warfare, with the use of covert means to explore or potentially sabotage critical infrastructures. The minister pointed out that the attack submarine could have acted as a "lure" to divert attention from the two submarines on specialized tasks. Healey suggested that Russia maintains operational ties with Iran, including the possible transfer of knowledge in drone technology, an element that connects the different scenarios of global tension.

The episode comes at a time of intense debate about British military capability. Although the government has reiterated its commitment to increase defense spending, it has not yet specified how it will finance this increase in a context of economic pressure, aggravated, according to all forecasts, by the impact that the war in Iran will have on the British economy in the coming months.

The Russian submarines have left the area and are heading north. London, in any case, has made it clear that it will intensify surveillance and cooperation with allies to protect its critical infrastructures in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment.