Under the radar of the general public, a new front is emerging in Europe’s fragile maritime corridors. The hybrid war in the North Sea is no longer a theoretical threat: Belgium has just tightened its monitoring of Russian vessels suspected of intelligence-gathering and potential sabotage operations.
Strategic pipelines and undersea cables at risk
Behind the official statements lies a nervous reality: energy lifelines and data cables crisscross the North Sea, making it a prime target for so-called “grey zone” tactics. Belgian naval and intelligence services speak of repeated suspicious manoeuvres by Russian ships. The memory of last year’s Nord Stream sabotage still haunts European capitals.
NATO and Brussels: rhetorical unity, practical confusion
Publicly, NATO leaders promise robust deterrence. In practice, the protection of offshore infrastructure remains patchy and dependent on national navies already stretched thin. Belgium’s new measures, combining drones, naval patrols and cooperation with neighbouring fleets, illustrate a growing awareness that the hybrid war in the North Sea could escalate quickly.
Weak signals: fishing trawlers or spy ships?
Fishing trawlers drifting near pipelines, merchant vessels switching off transponders: these weak signals are now scrutinised like coded messages. The North Sea, once a backwater of trade routes and oil rigs, has become a chessboard where Russia tests Europe’s will.
Conclusion: a maritime front line
Whether the West admits it or not, the hybrid war in the North Sea is well underway. Belgium’s cautious ramp-up may be just a foretaste of more direct confrontations to come.
