EU Starts to Develop Plan to Protect Transatlantic Submarine Cables

25 January, 2025 Illustrative photo of European military personnel with the EU flag. Photo from open sources. The EU's first defense commissioner has begun to create a plan to protect transatlantic submarine cables connecting Europe and America, given Ireland's inability to protect them.

This was reported by the Irish Examiner. However, despite the fact that about 75% of transatlantic cables pass through the waters of the Irish economic exclusive zone, Ireland does not have sufficient forces to ensure their protection. The Irish Navy is only able to send one ship on patrol at any given time.

They still do not have sonars that can detect submarine activity underwater. This means there are possible threats of sabotage of vital infrastructure.

The map of submarine cables. Photo by Submarinecable Map

Irish MEPs informed the EU First Commissioner about the situation.

They invited him to join the negotiations on the involvement of European and British Naval Forces to protect critical maritime infrastructure in the Irish economic zone. This was announced by the leader of the largest Irish party Fine Gael in the European Parliament, MEP Sean Kelly. "I have raised this issue [of Ireland's insufficient maritime defense capabilities] with Commissioner Kubilius, and he is well aware of it.

He will come up with proposals. The sheer size of our EEZ means that monitoring it [and the submarine cables] has to involve more than just us, as we cannot do it alone in the face of growing security threats," he stated.

Known incidents

The publication cites the example of when in November 2024, the Russian spy ship Yantar "blatantly ignored" the request of an Irish Navy ship to leave the waters of the Irish exclusive economic zone.

The ship Yantar. Source: LPhot Dan Rosenbaum/UK MOD

The Russian ship entered these waters on November 14 and immediately received a message from the patrol ship James Joyce calling for it to leave the area.

However, the Yantar refused to budge. It remained at its position in the Irish Sea until it  early in the morning on November 15. In addition, according to the newspaper, in 2023, a Russian submarine was detected directly at the entrance to Cork harbor.

It was only driven away with the help of a British helicopter that dropped a sonar buoy into the water. And then, by the appearance of a warship of the Royal Navy of Great Britain. The publication notes that the Russians are probably trying to test the reaction of the Irish and British authorities with such provocations.

And also to assess the interaction between the two countries.

In early January 2025, the Irish government signed an agreement to purchase 4 H145M multi-purpose helicopters.

Thanks to this purchase, the Irish Air Force will receive aircraft capable of performing strike missions.