Cyber and Maritime Resilience Stressed In Indo-Pacific at CUTS-RMIT Webinar

New Delhi, August 28 (KNN) India and Australia must play a leading role in securing the Indo-Pacific’s digital and maritime infrastructure, experts emphasised during a high-level webinar hosted by CUTS Global Affairs Centre and the Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation at RMIT University.

The virtual session, “Securing the Indo-Pacific’s Digital Arteries: India–Australia Collaboration for Cyber and Maritime Resilience”, highlighted the critical importance of subsea cables that carry nearly 95% of global internet traffic.

Opening the discussion, Ujjwal Kumar, Associate Director at CUTS International, said the Indo-Pacific has become the epicentre of global competition, giving India and Australia both responsibility and opportunity to strengthen cyber and maritime frameworks.

Moderator Prem Chhetri from RMIT underlined that subsea cable systems are not just a technological concern but a matter of sovereignty and national security.

Experts stressed that combining Australia’s infrastructure financing capacity with India’s manufacturing strengths could significantly enhance Indian Ocean connectivity.

Samuel Bashfield of the Australia-India Institute noted that partnerships in trusted supplier networks, training, and repair systems would help bridge connectivity gaps for smaller Indo-Pacific nations.

Capt. Sarabjeet Parmar (Retd.) of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research called submarine cables “geopolitical instruments” and urged deeper cooperation through naval exercises like Malabar and AUSINDEX, along with stronger policy frameworks to secure high-density routes.

Professor Matthew Warren of RMIT highlighted AI and digital tools as vital for identifying vulnerabilities in cable systems. He also pointed to Australia’s Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre under the Quad as a model of cooperation.

Concluding the session, CUTS International’s Purushendra Singh said India and Australia are poised to drive a secure, inclusive, and resilient digital future for the region.

(KNN Bureau)