Press release
Advanced Research Workshop on Undersea Communications Cables and Crisis Management
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Published on
Last updated on
The Department of Defence in Ireland and the Directorate for Defence of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Iceland jointly hosted an Advanced Research Workshop on Undersea Communications Cables and Crisis Management on 3-5 December.
This workshop, which took place in Ireland, aimed to deepen collaboration and foster dialogue on the security and resilience of Critical Undersea Infrastructure. The workshop, which was supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, provided a platform for subject matter experts from key stakeholders to discuss recent developments, highlight particular challenges, inform policy at different levels, and identify best practices in crisis management suited to the specific contexts of Iceland and Ireland. It also provided opportunities to exchange lessons learned amongst the invited nations and participants.
The workshop was attended by subject matter experts from 15 different countries, including leading researchers, policymakers, government officials and key industry players working on these critical issues.
Ms. Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General of the Department of Defence in Ireland said:
"Ireland and Iceland’s waters are home to critical infrastructure that is of both national and global significance. But we cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security, nor isolate ourselves from world events. We have a responsibility, through our defence policy, to invest in the defence of the state, to protect our citizens, our values and our sovereign interests and to continue to contribute to international peace and security."
Ambassador Sturla Sigurjónsson said:
"Undersea communications cables are essential to our modern digital economies, not least for island countries like Iceland and Ireland. The security and resilience of this infrastructure requires collaboration between countries as well as between policy makers, industry, defence forces and academia. Developing a better collective understanding of the issues affecting the maritime environment will help to improve security and crisis management of undersea infrastructure.”
While most cable faults are the result of natural or accidental events the current geopolitical context has drawn increased attention to the potential vulnerability of undersea infrastructure to interference or sabotage by malicious actors. By bringing together key stakeholders to discuss these issues of common interest, Iceland and Ireland hope to further the resilience and security of undersea infrastructure and contribute to the wider regional and international discussion on this issue.