Seabed Security: An Interview with Julien de Saint-Quentin
Joanne Swann
03/16/2026
A structure at sea
Global reliance on subsea cables, pipelines and offshore energy networks is growing. As a result, the seabed has become a significant strategic domain. Protecting this critical infrastructure is now a key concern for governments, navies and industry.
Ahead of the Seabed Security Conference (13th - 14th October 2026, Troia, Portugal), I spoke with Julien de Saint-Quentin, who has worked as a senior officer in the French Navy for 27 years. Julien was a strategy advisor to the First Sea Lord (2012-2015) and the Head of the French Navy (2016-2020), as well as a naval attaché in London (2020-2023). Together, we spoke about the evolving threat landscape and the capabilities needed to secure critical undersea infrastructure.
Visit the Seabed Security Conference websiteVisit the Seabed Security Conference websiteJoin senior defence leaders and industry experts at the Seabed Security Conference, taking place 13 - 14 October 2026, at the Design Hotel, Tróia, Portugal. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the latest strategies and technologies to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure—secure your place today.
How has the strategic importance of the seabed evolved in recent years, and what do you see as the most significant threats to critical underwater infrastructure today?
The seabed has shifted from being primarily a technical or commercial layer to becoming a strategic one.
Twenty years ago, when I was in the Navy, most people associated seabed activity with offshore energy or niche military missions handled by specialists. Today, however, the seabed carries digital traffic, energy networks, military sensing systems, and much of the physical infrastructure that supports the global financial system. In other words, modern economies depend far less on what floats and far more on what runs underwater – and unfortunately, much of it remains out of sight.
https://www.defenceiq.com/naval-maritime-defence/articles/seabed-security-and-strategic-competition-an-interview-with-julien-de-saint-quentin
