Cyber and Maritime Resilience Stressed In Indo-Pacific at CUTS-RMIT Webinar
On 28 August 2025, in New Delhi (KNN), a high-level webinar organised by the CUTS Global Affairs Centre and the Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation at RMIT University highlighted the importance of India and Australia taking the lead in protecting the digital and marine infrastructure of the Indo-Pacific. The crucial significance of subsea cables, which transport about 95% of all internet traffic worldwide, was emphasised at the virtual session, “Securing the Indo-Pacific’s Digital Arteries: India–Australia Collaboration for Cyber and Maritime Resilience.” “The Indo-Pacific has become the epicentre of global competition, giving India and Australia both responsibility and opportunity to strengthen cyber and maritime frameworks,” said Ujjwal Kumar, Associate Director at CUTS International, who opened the debate. RMIT moderator Prem Chhetri emphasised that subsea cable systems are a question of national security and sovereignty as much as technology. Experts emphasised that integrating India’s manufacturing prowess with Australia’s infrastructure finance capabilities might greatly improve connectivity across the Indian Ocean. Smaller Indo-Pacific countries would benefit from collaborations in training, maintenance systems, and trusted supplier networks, according to Samuel Bashfield of the Australia-India Institute. Submarine cables are “geopolitical instruments,” according to Capt. Sarabjeet Parmar (Retd.) of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research. He called for stronger policy frameworks to secure high-density routes and closer collaboration through naval exercises like Malabar and AUSINDEX. RMIT professor Matthew Warren emphasised the need for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital techniques in detecting cable system vulnerabilities. Additionally, he cited the Quad’s Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre in Australia as an example of collaboration. Purus Hendra Singh of CUTS International concluded the meeting by stating that Australia and India are well-positioned to lead the region toward a safe, resilient, and inclusive digital future.