Over the past years, maritime issues in the Mediterranean have returned to the forefront of the international attention. The seabed is emerging as a new strategic dimension in the region, due to the presence of critical resources (such as hydrocarbons and critical raw materials) and as a vital data “superhighway” for the digital economy (up to 95% of trans-regional communications pass through these undersea cables). Notably, nearly all submarine cables connecting Europe and Asia transit through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Global powers and technology companies are increasingly active in laying subsea cables and building critical infrastructure and surveillance technologies. The seabed offers opportunities for innovation, growth and cooperation among regional countries. At the same time, the region faces mounting challenges, such as the exposure to hybrid threats, and the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework for this evolving domain. This session explores how Mediterranean actors can work to recalibrate their maritime agendas to address this dual reality of emerging threats and new opportunities. Additionally, the explores possible cooperative dynamics behind the exploitation of the seabed and the need to redefine the agenda of riparian countries in this respect. How can maritime security in the Mediterranean be reinforced amid regional conflicts and disruptions in the Red Sea? What strategies can be adopted to build more resilient and diversified routes for critical undersea infrastructure? What rules and partnerships are needed to protect this increasingly strategic field? How can Mediterranean stakeholders protect shared strategic assets?