Analysts tell Al Jazeera that Europe lacks an assertive response to Russia’s suspected operations. Europe is unprepared to counteract a new chapter of Russian military and intelligence activities in the Baltic and North Seas, experts have told Al Jazeera.

Debt-ridden and challenged around the world, the U.S. should encourage Europe to defend itself. In recent days, top officials in France and Germany warned of looming confrontations between NATO and Russia.

This year, imports of Russian energy actually increased in seven major European countries after over three years of war.

The main reason that no one else has tried to build something like this is that it doesn’t really have any use," one expert told NBC News.