Germany, Norway seek to strengthen NATO's role in underwater pipeline security

'The recent damage to the Nord Stream and Baltic Connector pipelines, for example, has shown how important critical underwater infrastructure is for the stability of our economic systems, the security of our societies and the defence of our alliance,' the German defence ministry said.

Berlin: Germany and Norway have signed a declaration on a proposal to strengthen NATO's role in the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, the German defence ministry said on Thursday after a meeting between their defence ministers in Brussels.

"The recent damage to the Nord Stream and Baltic Connector pipelines, for example, has shown how important critical underwater infrastructure is for the stability of our economic systems, the security of our societies and the defence of our alliance," the ministry said in a statement.