Latest news with #DefenseOfficials
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Southeast Asia joins Europe's calls to defend subsea cables
Defense officials from Europe and Southeast Asia called for stronger collaboration to protect the global network of subsea cables as concerns grow over threats to this vital infrastructure. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia are becoming key hubs for the roughly 600 fiber-optic cables that carry nearly all of the world's data. Meanwhile, a spike in cable damage in European waters, particularly in the Baltic Sea, has heightened fears about the network's vulnerability. "We need to work together to defend the entire network,' Singapore Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security forum on Sunday. "There's no point trying to defend the integrity and security of a submarine cable by looking at a point. We need both ends to be secure.' The issue came up repeatedly during the two-day summit in Singapore, with European officials keen to share what they've learned from the recent rise in subsea cable damage. Today, the global undersea cable network stretches about 1.4 million kilometers. With the demand for data center power projected to surge significantly with the advent of intensive artificial intelligence platforms, more cables are essential. Protecting them has become a key imperative in Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with incidents in its waters mostly involving tankers traveling to and from Russia, and in at least one case, a Chinese vessel. Despite suspicions of sabotage, there's been no strong evidence pointing to deliberate attacks, with the incidents more likely to be accidents or careless behavior. Still, NATO countries have increased patrols in key areas to ensure the safety of undersea infrastructure. The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas urged European and Asian partners to work together at sea to tackle covert "shadow fleets' of tankers and review maritime security laws. Protecting digital cable infrastructure is important for the Philippines too, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview. He added that his country, which is locked in a long-running dispute with China in the South China Sea, is working to build up its capabilities to address the threat. Thailand also called the issue a pressing concern, with Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai saying the country is collaborating with Singapore and Brunei. He added undersea infrastructure faces risks not only from sabotage, but also from accidents and natural disasters.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Southeast Asia Joins Europe's Calls to Defend Subsea Cables
Defense officials from Europe and Southeast Asia called for stronger collaboration to protect the global network of subsea cables as concerns grow over threats to this vital infrastructure. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia are becoming key hubs for the roughly 600 fiber-optic cables that carry nearly all of the world's data. Meanwhile, a spike in cable damage in European waters, particularly in the Baltic Sea, has heightened fears about the network's vulnerability.
Russia Today
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
US officials ‘frustrated' over Australian tank shipment to Ukraine
Australia has announced it will ship 49 decommissioned M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine after receiving approval from the US. The decision has reportedly sparked criticism from American and Australian officials alike, who question whether Ukraine will be able to actually use them due to logistics issues and vulnerability to Russian drones. The start of the delivery was confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Rome on Sunday. According to ABC, the loading of the first tanks onto a cargo ship has commenced, though specific details about their location and arrival date remain undisclosed for security reasons. The transfer of the Abrams required US approval due to their American origin. While Washington eventually granted permission, US officials have privately expressed 'frustration' over the move, ABC reported. 'Last year, even before Donald Trump returned as president, we warned the Australians that sending these Abrams tanks would be complicated, and once they finally get to the battlefield, the Ukrainians will find them difficult to sustain,' one unnamed US official told the network. Australian defense officials echoed the concerns. 'We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles. The tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war,' an ABC source noted. In late 2023, the US, under former President Joe Biden, supplied 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Media reports claim that the heavy armor, estimated to cost $10 million each, has faced challenges on the battlefield, including drone strikes and rough terrain. Russia claims to have destroyed several Abrams tanks. In May 2024, it showcased a captured tank at a military exhibition in Moscow alongside troves of other Western equipment. Moscow has denounced the Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that they will only prolong the conflict without changing the outcome.
