UK and Ireland plan joint exercises in 2026 to safeguard undersea cables amid rising threats and hybrid maritime risks.
UK and Ireland Launch Undersea Cable Drills
Britain and Ireland are set to roll out live exercises this September to check their readiness for incidents involving undersea cables, the two nations’ leaders announced Friday. The move comes amid growing concerns over maritime security in an increasingly tense global environment.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the drills reflect “a more contested environment” and the need to counter heightened hostile state activity beneath the waves.
Rising Tensions in European Waters
Subsea networks—power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines—have faced repeated disruptions in the Baltic Sea since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These events have spurred European nations to rethink the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
The upcoming exercises aim to simulate real-world scenarios and test coordinated responses, ensuring that both countries can act quickly if a major cable incident occurs.
Strengthening Cooperation and Surveillance
The joint statement highlighted that the new agreement will allow for better information sharing and coordinated responses to protect undersea communication cables vital to both economies.
Ireland has also applied to join a 2024 subsea security pact covering the North Sea, which currently includes Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Britain, and Denmark.
Last month, Dublin announced plans to enhance radar and subsea monitoring capabilities while expanding collaboration with NATO allies, a move prompted by growing hybrid threats across the North Atlantic.
Challenges Ahead for Ireland
As a neutral country with the EU’s lowest defence spending, Ireland has faced criticism for limited maritime monitoring and defence capabilities. The upcoming exercises will test its readiness and ability to respond alongside a key partner in the UK.
