A FORMER commander of US Army Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, declared that ports are more important to NATO than patriot missile systems, warning against China's investments in critical EU infrastructure, reports Reuters.
General Hodges declared a cyber attack on the german ports of Bremerhaven or Hamburg would impede NATO efforts to send military reinforcements to allies.
The European Commission proposed a plan to bolster cyber defense earlier this month. Russia has recently targeted communications and electricity infrastructure in Ukraine.
'Bremerhaven and Hamburg are actually the most important seaports on which the alliance depends, for the military equipment, not just commercial cargo,' said General Hodges.
He recalled a 2017 cyberattack, dubbed NotPetya and attributed to Russia, that first targeted Ukraine but spread through corporate networks of multinationals with operations or suppliers in eastern Europe.
'That was when I realised how vulnerable we are,' he said. 'If we can't use Bremerhaven, it will be very difficult for the United States to reinforce and to fulfill its part of operation plans.'
General Hodges said Berlin's decision to allow Chinese group Cosco to buy a stake in a terminal in Hamburg caused 'a lot of anxiety, because once they're there, they're inside the ecosystem of the harbour.'
SeaNews Turkey
General Hodges declared a cyber attack on the german ports of Bremerhaven or Hamburg would impede NATO efforts to send military reinforcements to allies.
The European Commission proposed a plan to bolster cyber defense earlier this month. Russia has recently targeted communications and electricity infrastructure in Ukraine.
'Bremerhaven and Hamburg are actually the most important seaports on which the alliance depends, for the military equipment, not just commercial cargo,' said General Hodges.
He recalled a 2017 cyberattack, dubbed NotPetya and attributed to Russia, that first targeted Ukraine but spread through corporate networks of multinationals with operations or suppliers in eastern Europe.
'That was when I realised how vulnerable we are,' he said. 'If we can't use Bremerhaven, it will be very difficult for the United States to reinforce and to fulfill its part of operation plans.'
General Hodges said Berlin's decision to allow Chinese group Cosco to buy a stake in a terminal in Hamburg caused 'a lot of anxiety, because once they're there, they're inside the ecosystem of the harbour.'
SeaNews Turkey
