India and EU Advance Strategic Cooperation on Undersea Cable Security in Indian Ocean

India and the European Union are intensifying their collaborative efforts to strengthen the security and resilience of undersea cables in the Indian Ocean through a dedicated maritime security workshop scheduled for December 5, 2025, in New Delhi. This initiative represents a significant development in the evolving EU-India strategic partnership, focusing on one of the most critical infrastructures supporting global digital connectivity and commerce.​

Critical Infrastructure Under Discussion

Submarine cables are vital lifelines of the modern global economy, carrying approximately 99 percent of intercontinental internet traffic and connecting continents, countries, and island nations to the mainland and the rest of the world. These undersea data cables have become indispensable for commerce and digital growth across multiple sectors. However, lying unprotected on the ocean floor and presenting physical accessibility challenges, submarine infrastructure remains vulnerable to malign activities and intentional damage, which can produce significant global impacts.​

The workshop will bring together approximately 70 senior maritime security experts, naval personnel, and officials from government agencies, including representatives from India, the European Union, and key Indian Ocean countries such as Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, and the Seychelles.​

Strategic Partnership Framework

European Union Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin emphasized that cooperation in the maritime domain forms a key component of the strategic EU-India agenda. He stated that the workshop reflects the shared interest of both sides in developing a comprehensive approach to maritime security. According to Ambassador Delphin, the EU Action Plan on Cable Security provides a framework to strengthen the security and resilience of submarine cable infrastructures and can serve as a foundation for developing further cooperation and joint strategies with international partners like India.​

The EU Ambassador also highlighted the regional significance of this cooperation, noting that the EU's focus on the Indian Ocean is particularly important given the increasing number of initiatives between Europe, India, and other regional partners, particularly within the context of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and related connectivity projects.​

Mapping Vulnerabilities and Solutions

Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (Retired), Director-General of India's National Maritime Foundation, stated that the workshop will foster regional maritime dialogue and action on securing undersea infrastructure, which remains critical for economic security and sovereignty. He indicated that discussions will identify vulnerabilities, highlight best practices, and promote concrete solutions that integrate technology, policy, and cooperation frameworks.​

According to official statements, protecting undersea infrastructure requires both enhanced surveillance and monitoring systems to detect threats in real time and strategic coordination between governments, private operators, and international partners to ensure rapid response and resilience.​

Broader Diplomatic Context

This seminar builds on the outcomes of the 4th EU-India Dialogue on Maritime Security and a ministerial meeting on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure held in Brussels in November 2025, at the margins of the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. The workshop is being jointly organized by India's National Maritime Foundation and the European Union, with support from ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU's Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific), an EU security and defence project co-funded by the EU, Germany, and France.​

As part of broader cooperation within the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor framework, the EU is advancing the EU-Africa-India Digital Corridor, which includes the 11,700-kilometer Blue Raman submarine cable system connecting Europe to India via the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Eastern Africa. This initiative aims to provide ultra-high-speed, secure, and diversified data connectivity resilient to disruptions from natural disasters or other challenges.​

The upcoming India-EU summit, scheduled for January 27, 2026, in New Delhi, is expected to feature discussions on possible cooperation in protecting critical undersea infrastructure as part of the broader strategic agenda between the two sides.