Seabed program
The Seabed Program lays the foundations for Australian strategic thought on seabed critical infrastructure protection and provides policy and strategic choices available to Defence
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Seabed critical infrastructure is rapidly expanding across the Indo-Pacific, serving as a superhighway for data-carrying fibre optic cables, gas pipelines, electricity cables, and both fossil and renewable resources. With seabed mining set to supply industries with critical minerals, the seabed is becoming increasingly vital to modern society. However, as the Ukraine War has demonstrated, conflict and geopolitical tensions also unfold beneath the ocean’s surface. The 2022 Nord Stream pipeline attack is a stark reminder that seabed warfare, while often seen as a contemporary threat, has played a role in conflicts for over a century.
This project establishes a strategic framework for Australia’s approach to seabed critical infrastructure protection, outlining key policy and defence options.
Led by Australia India Institute research fellow Samuel Bashfield, the project includes collaboration with Associate Professor Sue Thompson and Dr. David Brewster (ANU National Security College) and Associate Professor David Lee (UNSW Canberra).
The Seabed Program is an ongoing initiative that continues to produce analytical papers, with further research outputs scheduled for release. In addition to research outputs, the project hosts informational seminars on seabed infrastructure and its strategic significance. Later this year, we will convene a high-level dialogue on seabed infrastructure and geopolitics, bringing together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to deepen discussions on this evolving security challenge.
