Geopolitical tensions rise over vulnerabilities in undersea cables

by@Reuters

Summary

The ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding undersea cables were discussed recently on The Big View podcast, featuring author Katja Bego. These cables, which span 1.4 million kilometers and facilitate a significant portion of global data transfer, have become vulnerable amidst increasing incidents linked to Russia and China, sparking fears of intentional sabotage. Bego highlighted how past incidents, particularly in the geopolitically sensitive Baltic Sea, have raised awareness about the threats to this critical infrastructure. As governments push for more robust protections and redundancy, the dominance of Big Tech companies in owning and investing in these cables has further complicated efforts to ensure tech sovereignty, prompting initiatives aimed at diversifying cable routes and enhancing regional autonomy.

Analysis

Katja Bego: Katja Bego is a senior research fellow in the Europe program at Chatham House, where she focuses on European security, autonomy, competitiveness, and geopolitical competition over new technology. She is the author of the book “Deep Connections: The Hidden Battles to Control Subsea Cables,” synthesizing research on the past, present, and future of underwater cables. She appears as the featured guest expert on this Reuters Breakingviews podcast episode analyzing vulnerabilities and geopolitical risks facing subsea infrastructure. Chatham House: Chatham House is a prominent think tank whose Europe program examines European security, autonomy, and geopolitical issues including technology competition. Katja Bego conducts her research there on undersea cables and related topics. The organization provides the institutional base for her expertise featured in the podcast. Peter Thal Larsen: Peter Thal Larsen is the host of The Big View podcast produced by Reuters Breakingviews. He leads discussions with experts on major stories in business, finance, and economics. In this episode, he interviews Katja Bego on the history, current threats, and resilience of the global undersea cable network. Reuters Breakingviews: Reuters Breakingviews produces The Big View podcast, drawing on expert insights for analysis of business, finance, and economics stories. It hosted and published this episode exploring the vulnerabilities of the world's undersea cable network amid rising geopolitical tensions. Geopolitics: Undersea cables have emerged as focal points for geopolitical rivalry, with incidents in sensitive areas like the Baltic Sea linked to Russia and China raising concerns over deliberate damage or mapping for future sabotage. Tech Sovereignty: Big Tech companies have become dominant owners and investors in new cable capacity, prompting governments to pursue sovereign alternatives such as diversified routes and regional projects to reduce dependence on a small number of actors. Infrastructure Resilience: Private sector management has kept the cable network resilient for peacetime operations, but governments are now increasing focus on redundancy, protected landing stations, and crisis planning to address heightened risks.

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