Multiple countries have launched a new international defence cooperation initiative aimed at protecting critical underwater infrastructure.
The “Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges” (GUIDE) was launched in Singapore on the sidelines of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue. The initiative brings together countries from Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen cooperation on underwater security.
The participating countries are Australia, Brunei, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. The Southeast Asian members are Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
The initiative was inspired by growing concerns over threats to critical underwater infrastructure, including energy and telecommunications networks. Such infrastructure forms a key part of global connectivity and economic activity.
Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said underwater cables and energy links are essential to modern societies and that disruptions in one area can affect entire networks. He said participating countries hope to develop common principles for building, maintaining, and protecting critical underwater infrastructure.
GUIDE outlines shared defence principles and areas for future cooperation as countries seek to strengthen resilience against threats to underwater networks.
