According to the website of the UK Ministry of Defence, a joint expeditionary force led by the UK has recently launched an operation called "Nordic Watchers" aimed at protecting critical underwater infrastructure through artificial intelligence data analysis. According to reports, on December 25, 2024, after the submarine cable from Finland to the Baltic States was damaged and interrupted, the UK led joint expeditionary force launched the "Nordic Watch" operation. This operation utilizes artificial intelligence to monitor 22 sea areas including the English Channel, North Sea, Kattegat Channel, and parts of the Baltic Sea, analyzing and identifying the collected data for risk assessment of ships entering the relevant waters. If potential risks arise, the system will monitor suspicious vessels in real-time and immediately issue warnings, and relevant assessment information will be shared with participating countries of the Joint Expeditionary Force and NATO allies. British Defense Secretary John Healy stated that the "Nordic Watchers" operation achieved monitoring of multiple sea areas with relatively little investment, effectively protecting critical underwater infrastructure. This is an important innovative measure that supports and supplements NATO operations while strengthening collective security in Europe. It is reported that the Joint Expeditionary Force is composed of 10 countries including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, etc. It has the ability to respond quickly and can carry out complex military tasks in different regions. In the summer of 2024, the unit organized its first "Nordic Watch" operation and dispatched over 300 personnel to Latvia during the "Joint Protector" exercise in November of the same year. In recent years, NATO has taken multiple measures to enhance its maritime monitoring capabilities in order to protect critical underwater infrastructure in European waters. In May 2024, NATO launched the Critical Submarine Infrastructure Security Center, which is specifically responsible for protecting the safety of submarine energy pipelines and cables, maintaining normal energy supply, global communication, and economic activities. In December of the same year, Pierre Vendier, Commander of the Supreme Allied Transformation Command of NATO, stated that NATO had begun planning to build an unmanned fleet at sea to assist in protecting key underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea. The specific formation mode would be based on the US Navy's 59th Task Force. In addition, NATO recently dispatched a fleet of nearly 10 ships to the Baltic Sea to protect critical underwater infrastructure, which is expected to continue until April. (New Society)