Australia exposed in silent war on undersea cables

Security & Defence PLuS Executive Director, Dr Ian Langford, has issued a warning in a new opinion piece for The Daily Telegraph Australia, calling for urgent action to protect Australia’s undersea infrastructure. In the article, Dr Langford argues that critical infrastructure like cables and pipelines are no longer just commercial utilities, but “lifelines for our nation.”

Drawing attention to recent undersea sabotage incidents in Europe, including the disruption of the Estlink-1 and Estlink-2 power cables to Estonia, Dr Langford stressed that Australia cannot afford to be complacent. He warned that “Chinese ‘research’ ships have been lurking near our cables for years,” and that such infrastructure is now a target in modern conflict.

He called for new, sovereign, government-protected and encrypted undersea cables to ensure Australia’s resilience and readiness.

“Yes, this would cost money. But do we really understand the true cost of tomorrow? Billions in economic wreckage, financial markets collapse – and a national retreat.”

He argues that without protected and independent connectivity, Australia risks strategic isolation in times of crisis and concludes:

“And make no mistake, in war, cutting off your enemy is the first move. A disconnected Australia is a dead Australia.”

Read the full piece on The Daily Telegraph Australia: Australia exposed in silent war on undersea cables.