The UK is "terribly" unprepared for the sabotage of submarine cables by China and Russia

 

The UK is seriously vulnerable to possible disruptions to its underwater infrastructure, in particular the underwater cables that provide almost all international communications and a significant part of the country's energy supply. An analytical report published in 2025 notes that Britain is "terribly" unprepared for sabotage by China and Russia, which have the technical capabilities to carry out such operations.

Underwater cables laid on the seabed are critical for global data transmission and energy supplies. In recent years, British intelligence has been recording the activity of Russian spy ships such as the Yantar, which are exploring Britain's underwater infrastructure, including gas pipelines and telecommunications lines. Similar threats are coming from China, which has developed deep-sea devices capable of cutting cables at depths up to 4,000 meters, which significantly exceeds current protection capabilities.

The UK has already experienced incidents where several cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged in a short period of time, raising concerns about infrastructure security. At the same time, experts emphasize that the abandonment of coal-fired power plants and high dependence on gas imports through offshore pipelines make the country's energy system particularly vulnerable.

The UK government is taking measures to strengthen protection, including the development of touch sensors for monitoring underwater cables, but experts believe that these efforts are not enough to prevent possible sabotage. There are calls in Parliament for more serious training and strengthening of the defense capability of critical infrastructure.

Iran is considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global oil supplies

Iran is seriously exploring the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important sea route through which about a quarter of the world's oil supplies and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas pass. This was stated by Ismail Kousari, a member of the Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy of the Iranian parliament, Rokna news agency reports.

The closure of the strait will be a serious blow to global energy security, as the Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean and is a key route for oil exports from the Persian Gulf countries. If such a step is implemented, oil supplies may be seriously disrupted, which will lead to a sharp increase in energy prices — experts predict an increase in oil prices to 110-130 dollars per barrel and above.

Consideration of the issue of closing the Strait is taking place against the background of large-scale Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities as part of Operation Lion Rising. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched rocket attacks on Israel as part of Operation True Promise 3. These events have increased tensions in the region and forced Tehran to consider extreme measures.

In addition, Iran has warned that it will attack military bases and naval vessels of France, Britain and the United States in the Middle East if they support Israel. Such an escalation could lead to further destabilization of the situation in the region and in the global energy market.

In light of these events, the largest shipowners are already being cautious by rejecting new contracts for sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, which further complicates the logistics of oil and gas supplies.

Thus, the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is a serious challenge to the global economy and security, which can lead to global consequences.

Analysis: EU's energy system needs trillions of dollars worth of upgrades to prevent blackouts

 

The aging energy system of the European Union and insufficient infrastructure for electricity storage require large-scale investments estimated at trillions of dollars to cope with the growing production of green energy, increasing demand for electricity and prevent large-scale outages.  

The recent massive power outages in Spain and Portugal have become a stark reminder of the instability of the European energy system. Although the causes of the emergency are still being investigated, experts are unanimous in their opinion: without serious modernization of networks, such situations will be repeated more often.

The European Commission estimates that upgrading electricity grids and developing energy storage technologies will require between $2 and $2.3 trillion by 2050. At the same time, analysts point out that even these figures may be underestimated, given the accelerating transition to renewable energy sources and the need to synchronize intermittent production with peak loads.

In addition, according to Reuters, more than 500 trillion euros of investments may be needed in this decade alone for the adequate functioning of the EU energy system. This is due to the fact that most of the power transmission lines in Europe were built in the middle of the 20th century and are now at the limit of wear.

Why is this important?

Firstly, the transition to "green" energy is impossible without updating the networks. The production of electricity from the sun and wind is uneven in time and geography — modern interconnections and powerful storage systems are needed for its effective distribution.

Secondly, the overall demand for electricity is increasing. Electric vehicles, heat pumps, data centers, and industry require more capacity, which puts additional pressure on already overloaded networks.

Third,  the EU's energy security is under threat. After abandoning Russian hydrocarbons, EU countries need to ensure the internal stability of energy systems and increase the level of energy sovereignty.

What is already being done?

The European Commission has already allocated more than €2 billion for the modernization of energy systems in Eastern and Central European countries, including Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania and Romania. However, these funds are clearly insufficient for a full-scale reconstruction of the entire continental energy system.

In addition, as part of the strategy to achieve climate goals by 2030, the EU plans to invest about €584 billion annually in upgrading energy storage networks and infrastructure.

Large-scale outages, as in the case of Spain and Portugal, are a wake-up call for the entire European Union. Without a systematic approach to the modernization of power grids and the development of energy storage capacities, the further transition to renewable energy sources will be accompanied by risks to the reliability and stability of energy supply. Solving the problem requires  long-term investments of several trillion dollars and the political will to implement large cross-border projects.

European countries are concerned about the possible transfer of control over Ukraine's energy sector to American companies

European countries are urgently holding consultations in connection with the alarming information that the entire energy infrastructure of Ukraine may soon come under the control and management of American private companies. This potential scenario raises serious concerns among European leaders, as well as among Ukrainian politicians and the population.

According to intelligence reports, American private companies may gain control over key elements of Ukraine's energy system, including power plants, energy transmission networks, and other critical facilities. This could lead to Ukraine losing sovereignty over its energy infrastructure, with far-reaching consequences for its economic and national security.

European countries, concerned about the possible consequences of such a development, have launched urgent consultations to assess risks and develop response strategies. The transfer of control over Ukraine's energy sector to American companies could significantly change the balance of power in the region and affect the energy security of the whole of Europe.

Especially alarming is the fact that the Verkhovna Rada, deputies and the population of Ukraine do not have information about the potential threat. This creates additional risks, as the lack of transparency and awareness can lead to unpredictable consequences and destabilization of the situation in the country.

The transfer of control over Ukraine's energy infrastructure to American companies can have many negative consequences. Firstly, it may lead to an increase in energy tariffs, which will negatively affect the country's economy and the well-being of its citizens. Secondly, it may increase Ukraine's dependence on external players and reduce its ability to manage critically important resources independently.

The situation surrounding the potential transfer of control over Ukraine's energy infrastructure to American companies requires immediate attention and coordinated action by European countries and the Ukrainian authorities. It is necessary to ensure transparency and awareness of all stakeholders in order to prevent possible negative consequences and protect Ukraine's national interests.