Security and Resilience of Submarine Cables to Be in Focus at Maritime Security Workshop with Experts from EU, India & Indian Ocean Nations

New delhi: Maritime security experts from India, Indian Ocean countries, and the European Union (EU) will convene in New Delhi on December 5 for a workshop dedicated to enhancing the protection of submarine infrastructure in the strategically significant Indian Ocean region. This event aims to bolster maritime cooperation between India, the EU, and the broader Indo-Pacific area by identifying risks, sharing best practices, and promoting practical, technology-driven, and policy-oriented solutions. According to European Union, data cables play a critical role in connecting continents and states, linking islands to the mainland, and facilitating communication between the EU, India, and the rest of the world, carrying 99% of intercontinental internet traffic. These cables are essential for commerce and digital growth across all sectors of the global economy. However, their location on the ocean floor makes them vulnerable to hostile actions and intentional damage, which can have far-reaching global consequences. This track 1.5 EU-India regional seminar will evaluate current risks and explore potential responses, with a focus on regional and global cooperation. Seventy participants, including military personnel and officials from government agencies like the Navy and the Coast Guard, from India, the EU, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, and the Seychelles, will attend the day-long event. Jointly organized by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) of India and the European Union, the workshop is part of the EU security and defence project ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU's Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific), co-funded by the EU, Germany, and France. H.E. Hervé Delphin, European Union Ambassador to India, highlighted that the workshop signifies a crucial step forward in ongoing EU-India maritime security dialogues. Cooperation in the maritime domain is a key component of the strategic EU-India agenda. This workshop on the security and resilience of submarine cables reflects the shared interes t in developing a comprehensive approach to maritime security. The EU Action Plan on Cable Security offers a framework to enhance the security and resilience of submarine cable infrastructures, serving as a basis for further cooperation and joint strategies with key international partners like India. Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM and Bar (Retd), Director-General of the National Maritime Foundation, emphasized that the workshop will promote regional maritime dialogue and efforts to secure undersea infrastructure, which is vital for economic security and sovereignty. The discussions will identify vulnerabilities, highlight best practices, and encourage solutions that integrate technology, policy, and cooperation. The seminar builds on conclusions from the 4th EU-India Dialogue on maritime security and the Ministerial Meeting on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, held in Brussels at the margins of the 4th EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. Protecting undersea infrastructure requires a com bination of advanced surveillance and monitoring systems to detect threats in real time and strategic coordination between governments, private operators, and international partners. The EU contributes to maritime security in the region, notably through its naval operations Atalanta and Aspides in the North-West Indian Ocean. As the world's two largest democracies, the European Union and India are committed to a rules-based global order, effective multilateralism, and sustainable development. The collaboration from 2020 to 2025 is guided by the EU-India Strategic Partnership Roadmap, the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and the Global Gateway Strategy. During the recent visit of the College of Commissioners to India, leaders from both sides praised growing cooperation in the defence and security domain, including their joint commitment to international peace and security, particularly maritime security. In the framework of IMEC, the EU is advancing the EU-Africa-India Digital Corridor, inclu ding the 11,700 km Blue Raman submarine cable system connecting Europe to India. About the EU's ESIWA+ project: ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU's Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific) aims to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism, crisis management, cybersecurity, and maritime security. It is supported by the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), the German Federal Foreign Office, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and is co-implemented by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Expertise France.