Security of global undersea infrastructure

The security of undersea infrastructure, including telecommunications cables and energy pipelines, has emerged as a critical frontier in hybrid warfare. As nations and corporations invest in technologies like autonomous underwater vehicles and AI-driven surveillance to protect these assets, the vulnerability of the global economy to subsea sabotage has become a primary concern.

While approximately 60% of the 150 to 200 cables damaged annually are attributed to human error from fishing and shipping activities, there is growing alarm regarding intentional disruptions. Geopolitical tensions have increased scrutiny of suspicious maritime behavior, with notable incidents including the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage and a 2024 disruption in the Baltic Sea involving the tanker Eagle S. Legal actions have also been taken in response to damage, such as the sentencing of a ship captain in Taiwan following damage to the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 submarine cable.

Recent developments highlight a significant gap in preparedness; the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 reports that while 99 per cent of international data traffic travels through seabed cables, only 18 per cent of organizations include this dependence in their cyber risk mitigation strategies. Geopolitical risks are also intensifying in specific maritime chokepoints. Iranian security officials have reportedly discussed targeting seven major cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz in response to potential military strikes, a move that could severely disrupt regional internet connectivity, banking, and e-commerce.