Roughly three-quarters of transatlantic subsea cables traverse Irish waters, underpinning vital international communications and financial exchanges. In response to potential sabotage risks, the Irish government has granted its navy expanded legal authority to board and inspect suspicious vessels. This move comes after the Russian vessel Yantar was escorted out of Ireland’s exclusive economic zone in November 2024 after monitoring subsea infrastructure. However, ongoing security vulnerabilities remain acute because the state lacks submarines, avoids NATO membership, and allocates the lowest share of GDP to defense in the European Union.
Key points
Expanded maritime boarding powers were granted to the Irish navy to inspect suspicious fo…: Expanded maritime boarding powers were granted to the Irish navy to inspect suspicious foreign vessels.
International tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft rely heavily on Ireland's subs…: International tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft rely heavily on Ireland's subsea communications infrastructure.
Limited naval resources and an absence from NATO restrict Ireland's capability to defend…: Limited naval resources and an absence from NATO restrict Ireland's capability to defend its strategic waters.
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Home to many US tech multinationals, Ireland raises alarm over Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
Wexford, Ireland – They cross the ocean floor between continents, carrying nearly all our data, from messages and calls to trillions of dollars in financial transactions each day.
Subsea cables underpin global communications and power economies, but they are also increasingly seen as vulnerable to sabotage.
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About 75 percent of transatlantic subsea cables pass through or near Irish waters, according to the Irish government, connecting North America with Europe – giving the small European Union member outsized strategic importance.
Ireland is also a major hub for United States tech multinationals, including Google, Microsoft and Meta, with a growing concentration of…
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