Undersea security an increasingly paramount concern for nations

Key Concepts:

• Undersea cables: Backbone of global communications, transmitting internet traffic, financial transactions, and diplomatic communications.
• Subsea domain: Increasingly critical arena, potentially decisive in major conflicts.
• Intentional damage: Sabotage or espionage targeting undersea cables.
• Grey zone warfare: Actions taken under the cloak of deniability, making attribution difficult.
• Deterrence: Using maritime capabilities to deter malign actors.
• Comprehensive security: A basis for preparedness in the undersea domain.
• Allied cooperation: Importance of working with allies to defend against threats.
• Rules of the sea: Frequently disputed and difficult to enforce.

1. Importance of Sea Security and Undersea Cables

• Growing importance of sea security is reflected in plans for new submarines.
• Undersea cables form the backbone of global communications, crucial for strategy.
• Threat to undersea communications networks was a key discussion point among defense ministers.
• Exponential growth in the use of submarine cables necessitates increased security measures.

2. Strategic Significance of the Subsea Domain

• The IISS Asia-Pacific Regional Assessment 2025 highlights the subsea domain as a critical arena.
• More than a million kilometers of undersea cables transcend national boundaries.
• These cables carry the vast majority of the world's Internet traffic, including streaming videos, financial transactions, diplomatic communications, and essential intelligence.

3. Threats to Undersea Cables

• Most cable damage is unintentional, resulting from human error or natural disasters.
• Intentional damage, through sabotage or espionage, is raising significant alarm.
• Since 2023, there have been at least 11 cases of undersea cable damage around Taiwan and in the Baltic Sea.

4. Grey Zone Warfare and Consequences

• Sabotaging communications is a form of grey zone warfare, conducted under the cloak of deniability.
• Attribution is difficult, making it hard to build a case against perpetrators.
• Damage to power cables could cause blackouts, while damage to communication cables could disrupt communication between states.
• Consequences of such attacks could be very serious.

5. European Response and Deterrence

• Europe faces a war on its doorstep, where malign actors have used the seas to gain advantage.
• Alliance countries are building defense capabilities in response.
• Maritime capabilities are essential for responding to threats.
• Deterrence works when Russian ships are detected and deterred by maritime presence.

6. Challenges and Cooperation

• Influencing the undersea domain faces unique and complex challenges due to the difficult operating environment.
• Nations are boosting their own capabilities and defense against threats.
• Officials emphasize the importance of working with allies.
• Data sharing and cooperation are crucial for identifying and addressing threats.

7. Rules of the Sea and Attribution

• Unlike the rules of war, the rules of the sea are frequently disputed.
• Pinning blame for subsea sabotage is difficult.

8. Conclusion

• With thousands more kilometers of cabling planned for the seabed, undersea security has become a paramount concern for many nations.
• Protecting this critical infrastructure requires a combination of national capabilities, allied cooperation, and effective deterrence strategies.