Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Chris Murphy have addressed a letter to President Biden, raising concerns about the security of undersea communications and energy cables. These cables are critical for international internet traffic and financial transactions, with more than 95% of such traffic relying on them.

The senators highlighted the potential threats posed by adversaries like Russia and China, who may target these infrastructures. "America’s adversaries have been developing their capabilities to attack or disrupt critical undersea infrastructure," they stated in the letter. They emphasized the historical precedent of belligerents attacking underwater communication lines during conflicts.

Joining Young and Murphy in signing the letter were Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Kaine, Pete Ricketts, Jeanne Shaheen, Dan Sullivan, and Brian Schatz. The group stressed that reviewing vulnerabilities in global undersea cable infrastructure should be a national priority to safeguard economic and national security interests.

The letter included several questions directed at President Biden regarding strategies to secure America’s undersea infrastructure and how to work with allies for additional capacity. It also sought information on encouraging nations to choose trusted suppliers for cable manufacturing.

"Given these threats and challenges," the senators wrote, "it is imperative that the United States undertake a review of existing vulnerabilities." They urged for responses from senior administration officials on plans to address these issues.