Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Royal Navy co-hosts Maritime Security Conference in Belfast
26 February 2026
The Royal Navy co-hosted a UK and Ireland Maritime Security Conference which highlighted escalating threats to undersea infrastructure and critical maritime assets in Irish waters.
The event saw political leaders, senior representatives from the Royal Navy and Irish Naval Service, Ireland’s Department of Defence, legal experts, academics, and private sector stakeholders unite to foster UK and Irish collaboration.
The event, held at the Belfast Harbour Commissioners Harbour Office, was co-organised by Queen's University Belfast's Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and the Council on Geostrategy. It took place amidst the anticipated renewal of the UK-Ireland Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on security cooperation and the launch of Ireland’s National Maritime Security Strategy.
Rear Admiral Anthony Rimington, the Royal Navy’s Director Force Generation, delivered the keynote address, describing the maritime security environment as "more congested and contested than at any time in my 35-year career.”
Highlighting the strategic value of undersea infrastructure, he remarked: “The waters that surround and connect these islands are not merely borders. They are arteries. They are connective tissue. They are the medium through which our prosperity flows”.
Rear Admiral Rimington also addressed threats in the North Atlantic, pointing to Russian activities mapping underwater cable networks. He confirmed that Royal Navy assets have been deployed near potentially hostile vessels, such as the Yantar, to demonstrate the UK’s resolve in safeguarding its interests.
The prosperity and security of Northern Ireland are interwoven with our closest neighbour.
The conference explored a broad spectrum of challenges, including attacks on undersea cables and pipelines, the activities of Russia's 'shadow fleet', cyber vulnerabilities, and the security of offshore wind infrastructure.
Discussions also focused on the rapid advancement of naval technology, reaffirming the Royal Navy's commitment to developing a hybrid fleet of crewed and autonomous vessels.
Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, opened the conference by highlighting the region's strategic importance, stating: "The prosperity and security of Northern Ireland are interwoven with our closest neighbour."
In his closing remarks, Dr Steve Aiken MLA stressed the urgency of raising awareness among the public, warning that critical infrastructure such as gas pipelines and data centres is essential to daily life across the British Isles and Western Europe.
The conference marked a significant step in strengthening maritime security cooperation between the UK and Ireland, addressing shared challenges in an increasingly complex and contested maritime environment.