Air Chief Marshal Lord Peach, former chairman of the Nato military committee, said in Monday’s report: “The Iran-backed Houthis assault on global maritime shipping has already demonstrated the ease with which our adversaries can wreak havoc on the water’s surface; there are growing concerns that they might also start doing so below it.”
He described undersea cables as “the unseen arteries of global communication”, the significance of which “extends far beyond digital connectivity, underpinning the resilience of our economic systems, the efficacy of our defensive frameworks, and the cohesion of our modern societies”.
The new report, backed by several senior political figures including Sir Michael Fallon, the former defence secretary, and ex-Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, urges the Government to develop a strategy to “achieve defence and deterrence in the undersea domain”.
It also recommends that the Government offer “clearer guidance” to the Ministry of Defence and cable owners, often private sector stakeholders, “where their respective duties to protect cables begin and end”.
‘Seabed warfare era has arrived’
Also among the recommendations is further co-operation with allies to deter hostile undersea activity further afield, citing Iran and China as nations with means to disrupt cable networks.
“The UK and its allies must not be caught flat-footed, and unable to deter and disrupt aggression against our critical maritime infrastructure along the seabed,” it added.
Jeremy Quin, Tory MP and chairman of the defence select committee, said in response to the report: “The era of seabed warfare has arrived in the Euro-Atlantic, and other contested regions may soon follow suit.”
The US and UK have conducted military strikes on Houthi bases in Yemen to try and deter the attacks.
It comes as the Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that US and British forces had conducted a further five “self-defence strikes” against the Houthis.
According to a statement from US Central Command, these included targeting “the first observed Houthi employment” of an unmanned underwater vessel since attacks began.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
