India and the European Union will hold in-depth discussions this week on strengthening the security and resilience of submarine cables in the Indian Ocean, weeks ahead of the annual India-EU summit scheduled for January 27 in New Delhi. Cooperation in protecting critical underwater infrastructure is likely to feature prominently at the summit, PTI reported.According to the EU, around 70 senior military personnel and officials from India, the EU and Indian Ocean countries will meet on Friday for in-depth deliberations on securing critical underwater infrastructure, particularly maritime cables. The discussions aim to map risks, share best practices and seek practical solutions based on technology and policy.
“Data cables connect continents and states, link islands to the continent and connect the EU and India to the rest of the world, carrying 99 percent of intercontinental internet traffic,” the EU said. He noted that undersea cables – essential to global trade and digital growth – remain vulnerable because they lie unprotected on the ocean floor and are difficult to monitor.The seminar is jointly organized by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) of India, the European Union and the European security and defense project ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific). The EU said the Track 1.5 meeting would assess current risks and examine possible responses with a focus on regional and global cooperation.EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin said the workshop marked an important milestone in the ongoing maritime security dialogues between the EU and India.“Maritime cooperation is a key part of the EU-India strategic agenda. This workshop on submarine cable security and resilience reflects the common interest we have in developing a comprehensive approach to maritime security,” he said.Delphin added that the EU Cable Safety Action Plan provides a framework to strengthen the safety of submarine cables.He said this “can serve as a basis for developing further cooperation and joint strategies with key international partners like India in this area”, adding that the EU’s focus on the Indian Ocean is increasing amid new initiatives involving Europe, India and regional partners, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.NMF Director General Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (retd) said the workshop would help “further foster regional maritime dialogue and action to secure undersea infrastructure, which is critical to economic security and sovereignty”.He said the discussions would identify vulnerabilities, highlight best practices and promote solutions combining technology, policy and cooperation.PTI reported that the seminar builds on the fourth EU-India maritime security dialogue and the ministerial meeting on critical maritime infrastructure protection held last month in Brussels.According to the EU, protecting underwater infrastructure requires improved monitoring and control systems to detect threats in real time, as well as strategic coordination between governments, private operators and international partners.The EU has underlined its broader role in maritime security in the region through the Atalanta and Aspides naval missions in the northwest Indian Ocean.
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