NATO, EU solidify ties to protect infrastructure

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) have established a task force to enhance the protection of critical infrastructure. This move follows the commitment of the two organizations to strengthen ties in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The task force will work to identify key threats to critical infrastructure and evaluate strategic vulnerabilities. The EU and NATO signed a joint declaration on Tuesday, citing the “gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades”, and affirmed that they will use all instruments at their disposal to achieve their goals.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the move and emphasized the need to address new types of threats following attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines and Moscow’s alleged weaponization of energy. Russia’s foreign ministry has criticized the move, claiming it signals the EU’s complete subordination to NATO. Moscow has frequently accused NATO of inciting the war in Ukraine.

NATO has increased naval deployments in the region following the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. The explosions are being investigated by officials in Sweden and Denmark. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of making critical infrastructure, technology, and supply chains more resilient to potential threats and taking action to mitigate vulnerabilities.

The task force aims to address potential vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and develop security solutions to protect it. This move has been met with criticism from Russia, which accuses the EU and NATO of subordination to the US-led military alliance. However, the EU and NATO have emphasized that the task force is a joint effort to protect the security of citizens in the Euro-Atlantic region.