Ireland is doubling down on subsea monitoring, a discipline of naval warfare the country has largely overlooked, but represents a key capability due to its strategic location on the northwestern edge of Europe. The Irish government published its latest Defense Policy Review earlier this summer, setting the posture of the national military forces in response to current security threats. The review recommends buying naval surveillance radar and sonar capabilities to monitor undersea activities in the waters around the island, in addition to a ground-based air defense system.
Dublin’s waters are a hub for undersea cables through which approximately 97% of global communications and internet traffic travels. Any disruption or sabotage to these cables could have significant international repercussions. The new defense review focuses on subsea and maritime infrastructure development to improve naval defense, including operationalizing inshore patrol vessels acquired from New Zealand in 2022. A new national maritime security strategy is being developed to enhance subsea ambitions.
To enhance its role in securing sea communication lines, Ireland received lawmakers’ approval in July to join the EU’s Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection project. This initiative, part of the PESCO framework, aims to improve underwater surveillance assets and capabilities. The addition of Ireland to the project was met with criticism from lawmakers concerned that it strays from the country’s longstanding policy of military neutrality.
