Editing Submarine communications cable (section)

==== Geopolitical risks and countermeasures ====
Submarine cables are inherently vulnerable to transnational threats like organized crime.<ref name=":1" />  International collaboration to address these threats tends to fall to existing organizations with a cable specific focus – such as the [[International Cable Protection Committee|International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC)]] – which represent key submarine stakeholders, and play a vital role in promoting cooperation and information sharing among stakeholders.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /> Such organizations are argued to be crucial to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated global strategy for cable security.<ref name=":17" />

As of 2025, a tense U.S.-China relationship complicates this task especially in the [[South China Sea]] where there are territorial disputes.  China has increasing control and influence over global cables networks, while both it and the USA financially supports allied-owned cable projects and exerts diplomatic pressure and regulatory action, e.g. against [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Guarascio |first1=Francesco |last2=Nguyen |first2=Phuong |last3=Brock |first3=Joe |date=18 September 2024 |title=Exclusive: Inside the US push to steer Vietnam's subsea cable plans away from China |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/inside-us-push-steer-vietnams-subsea-cable-plans-away-china-2024-09-17/ |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":20" /> 

In light of [[Nord Stream pipelines sabotage]] in the [[Baltic Sea]], where subsea infrastructure vital to Germany and Russia was physically destroyed, and other incidents there, [[NATO]] has increased patrols and monitoring operations.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-16 |title=NATO moves to protect undersea pipelines, cables as concern mounts over Russian sabotage threat |url=https://apnews.com/article/nato-russia-sabotage-pipelines-cables-infrastructure-507929033b05b5651475c8738179ba5c |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>