The Rising Threat to Europe’s Undersea Infrastructure
Europe is facing a growing strategic challenge: the security of its undersea infrastructure. This includes an extensive network of fiber-optic cables, energy pipelines, offshore platforms, and communication lines resting on the seabed. These systems are vital for economic stability, digital connectivity, and energy supply. Yet, they remain highly vulnerable to accidents, aging, and—more critically—deliberate sabotage and hybrid warfare tactics.
Recent incidents have heightened alarm across the continent. In late 2024, undersea communication cables linking Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania were severed. Investigations quickly ruled out natural causes, with officials from Germany and Finland suggesting “likely hybrid sabotage.” These suspicions echo the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, which underscored how fragile and exposed Europe’s underwater lifelines truly are.
Security experts argue that most of these systems were never designed to resist covert underwater attacks or sophisticated surveillance. Their protection now requires advanced technology, intelligence sharing, and proactive monitoring. The stakes are enormous: more than 95% of international data traffic travels through undersea cables, while gas and energy pipelines supply millions of households and industries.
To address this growing vulnerability, European nations have begun to develop, test, and deploy autonomous underwater systems. These include marine drones, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for surveillance and rapid response.
Germany’s Technological Drive
Germany has been at the forefront of this shift. The BlueWhale underwater drone, built by Israel Aerospace Industries, has been tested for real-time maritime surveillance. Its capabilities include tracking unusual vessel activity, detecting submarines, and monitoring pipelines and cables.
In parallel, German defence technology firms are consolidating resources. Helsing, a Berlin-based company, recently acquired Australia’s Blue Ocean Robotics, aiming to integrate AI-powered underwater gliders designed for intelligence and surveillance missions.
Moreover, NATO has launched the “Baltic Sentry” mission, deploying naval drones to patrol undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. This initiative demonstrates a growing recognition that underwater threats are no longer theoretical—they are strategic realities.
Part 2: Canada-Germany Cooperation – Building a Joint Maritime Defence Framework
Although no official statement has yet confirmed direct Canada-Germany talks on maritime drones, multiple existing frameworks indicate deepening collaboration in maritime defence and undersea protection.
Existing Defence Partnerships
In July 2024, Canada, Germany, and Norway signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen maritime security cooperation in the North Atlantic. This agreement outlined shared priorities in deterrence, surveillance, and infrastructure protection—key areas where autonomous drones could play a vital role.
By mid-2025, Canada and the European Union formalized a Security and Defence Partnership, emphasizing maritime domain awareness and technological cooperation. This framework could easily accommodate joint R&D programs, AI-based underwater detection systems, and shared operations.
Canada’s Technology Accelerator Program in Germany and Finland also supports the development of dual-use technologies—such as underwater drones, sonar, radar, and advanced sensors—allowing Canadian firms to partner with European defence agencies.
Mutual Strategic Interests
Both countries face similar challenges:
- Vast coastlines and remote maritime zones vulnerable to interference.
- Critical undersea infrastructure essential for communication and trade.
- Hybrid threats from state and non-state actors exploiting underwater vulnerabilities.
For Canada, developing autonomous surveillance systems offers cost-effective coverage over large oceanic areas. For Germany, partnerships bring access to Canadian expertise in robotics, sensors, and Arctic operations.
Opportunities for Joint Action
A Canada-Germany Maritime Drone Partnership could include several components:
- Joint R&D Programs
Collaborative design of AI-enabled autonomous underwater drones capable of real-time anomaly detection, cable inspection, and threat identification. Shared development reduces costs and accelerates deployment. - Interoperability & Procurement Alignment
Procurement of drone fleets interoperable with NATO and EU systems, ensuring coordinated responses and shared intelligence. - Data-Sharing Networks
Integration of sensor arrays across the Atlantic and Baltic, supported by secure communication links and shared maritime situational awareness. - Training & Exercises
Joint exercises testing rapid deployment of drones, undersea cable monitoring, and emergency repair operations following sabotage or natural damage. - Policy & Legal Coordination
Harmonization of maritime laws, environmental regulations, and rules of engagement for autonomous systems in international waters. - Crisis Response Framework
Establishment of rapid repair teams, equipped with drones and specialized vessels, to restore damaged cables or pipelines swiftly.
Challenges to Overcome
- Technical hurdles in long-endurance navigation, communication, and stealth operations.
- Legal complexities regarding surveillance in international or contested waters.
- Slow procurement cycles and differing national standards.
- Attribution difficulties—identifying saboteurs remains a major political challenge.
Despite these obstacles, cooperation offers strategic and economic benefits. Joint programs would enhance industrial capacity, strengthen defence supply chains, and create high-tech jobs in both nations.
Conclusion: A Strategic Imperative for Europe’s Security
Europe’s undersea infrastructure forms the invisible backbone of its economy, communications, and energy systems. As hybrid threats increase, safeguarding these assets is becoming a strategic priority.
Canada and Germany, through their shared NATO commitments and defence technology capabilities, are well-positioned to lead a transatlantic response. By combining AI-driven drones, autonomous vehicles, and advanced sensors, they can build a resilient monitoring network capable of deterring, detecting, and responding to undersea threats.
Such a partnership would not only protect Europe’s seabed assets but also strengthen global maritime security, setting a precedent for allied cooperation in the era of hybrid warfare.
The future of undersea defence lies in autonomy, intelligence, and collaboration—and Canada and Germany appear ready to embrace this challenge together.
