Digital Resilience

Submarine data cables have become a vital pillar for the security and economies of Europe and Asia, carrying the international data traffic that carries financial and commercial transactions, cloud computing and digital services, as well as cross-border business operations. The reliability of these services depends not only on the availability of functional cable systems but also on the geographical distribution of the routes connecting markets, data centres, and digital infrastructure.   In this context, the Red Sea region and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are of particular significance. They link the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and serve as a primary channel for data traffic between Asia and Europe. Furthermore, the risks in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb raises the stakes for the submarine and terrestrial corridors connecting continents together. In such a context, countries including France, Italy, Germany, Pakistan, India, and Singapore face significant tests regarding their interconnectedness to such corridors. This raises crucial questions: how do countries differ in their ability to maintain connectivity, and what costs and dependencies do alternative routes introduce?