Seabed Warfare emerges as a critical domain of modern Geotech conflict | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Seabed Warfare emerges as a critical domain of modern Geotech conflict

Posted 22 Mar 2025

2 min read

This warfare threatens the security of global connectivity and could reshape the geopolitical landscape. 

About Seabed Warfare

  • It encompasses military operations conducted on, from, or targeting the ocean floor, focusing on critical undersea infrastructure.
  • Tools used: Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Submersibles, etc.

Reasons for the Rise

  • Increased Reliance on undersea infrastructure: Like communication cables, energy pipelines, etc. 
  • Advancement of deep-sea technology:  It has enhanced the scope of seabed warfare from cable-cutting and censorship to sophisticated operations like surveillance, reconnaissance, and cyber warfare.
  • Potential of Ocean Economy: As per Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it has the potential to reach $3,000 billion by 2030. 
    • Several activities like oil and gas exploration, submarine cables for fibre optic communication etc., hold immense future potential. 

Need for Building Seabed Warfare Capability

  • Increased geopolitical interests: French Navy unveiled its strategic seabed warfare doctrine in 2022 with other countries like USA, UK, China, etc., showing similar interest. 
  • Security of Indo-Pacific: Region is home to critical undersea cables, essential pipelines, energy routes, etc. 
    • Growing China’s influence in the region has raised concerns for its security. 
  • Rising Tensions: Evident in the form of recent incidents like explosions on Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines (2022); sabotage incidents against undersea cables in the Baltic Sea (2023, 2024), etc. 
  • Building Seabed Surveillance: To track submarine movements laying the foundation for modern naval strategy.
  • Tags :
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Seabed Warfare
  • Seabed Surveillance
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