Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles says the seabed is increasingly vulnerable to deliberate interference and presents it as a potential “battlefield” for global conflict. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Marles links the risk to growing threats against critical underwater infrastructure, including telecommunications cables and energy pipelines. He warns that stronger maritime capabilities are needed as international controls over illicit maritime activity remain limited.
Across coverage of the announcements, Marles supports a new AUKUS initiative focused on underwater technology. The initiative includes work on undersea drones intended to help detect, deter, or respond to threats to undersea cables. Marles frames the move as part of broader efforts to protect regional security and maintain resilience for critical infrastructure.
The reporting also describes Marles using his speech to raise concerns about weaker oversight of “shadow fleet” vessels and to urge greater transparency regarding maritime operations. The sources agree the announcements are aimed at improving Australia’s defence posture for undersea domains in the face of evolving regional challenges.
