Coast Guard Lacks Funding and Personnel to Protect Against Espionage

NOS

Lean Right

Factuality

Ownership

The Dutch Coastguard is so short-staffed and underfunded that the service cannot protect North Sea infrastructure from espionage and sabotage. Internal documents from the Coastguard and various ministries, obtained by NRC under the Open Government Act, reveal that the Netherlands risks missing suspicious vessels that may be carrying out espionage or sabotage operations. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Dutch government establis…

NRC Handelsblad

Lean Left

Factuality

Ownership

Russia is targeting internet and electricity cables in the North Sea. But the Dutch Coast Guard is so short-staffed and under-funded that it cannot protect this critical infrastructure from espionage and sabotage.