RETN CEO compares deep-sea cable cutting to nukes as psychological deterrent
Subsea cable cutting's real power isn't sabotage, it's the threat—like nukes, says RETN CEO.
In a provocative comparison, RETN CEO Tony O'Sullivan said deep-sea cable cutting technology functions like nuclear weapons—its primary power lies in the threat of use, not the act itself. Speaking in Hong Kong, O'Sullivan explained that the psychological effect of potential sabotage on submarine cables can destabilize populations and disrupt normal government operations, making it a potent hybrid warfare tool. He noted that while actual cable cuts have been mostly accidental so far, the mere capability—such as China's reported deep-sea cable cutter—generates geopolitical unease.
This comes as 17 Asian and European nations have recently intensified collaborative defense strategies to protect seabed infrastructure, following incidents like the Nord Stream pipeline explosion. Notably, the two largest marine powers, China and the United States, are not part of these alliances. O'Sullivan downplayed the physical threat of cable cuts, instead warning that the greater risk to global internet stability stems from "naivety about network design" rather than deliberate sabotage.
- RETN CEO compares cable cutting tech to nuclear weapons: deterrence via threat, not use.
- 17 Asian/European nations boosting seabed defense collaboration; China and US excluded.
- Psychological impact of potential cuts disrupts governance, while actual cuts remain mostly accidental.
Why It Matters
Seabed cable security shifts from physical risk to psychological warfare, impacting global internet resilience and geopolitical strategy.