When sabotage becomes piracy: rethinking the legal protection of undersea infrastructure

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Abstract

This article explores whether deliberate attacks on undersea cables and pipelines could be classified as piracy under international law. Amid rising threats to undersea infrastructure and in light of inadequate legal frameworks, it argues for a reinterpretation of the piracy definition in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The article identifies key legal gaps, examines the definitional elements of piracy, and contends that certain attacks may fall within this framework, permitting their interdiction and subsequent prosecution of foreignf lagged vessels. It concludes that such a reinterpretation offers a timely and legally sound approach to enhancing the protection of critical global infrastructure.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherThe British Academy
Number of pages14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2026

Publication series

NameGlobal (Dis)Order
PublisherThe British Academy | Carnegie Endowment

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