4. Cyber diplomacy
Digitalisation and related topics have reached almost all aspects of foreign policy. This is not a new realisation, but ministries of foreign affairs have only recently begun to address this in a more comprehensive way. Hence, we are now seeing the emergence of ‘digital foreign policy’, in particular digital foreign policy strategies that offer a comprehensive overview of countries’ approaches to digital topics, actors and processes, and the establishment of cyber departments and portfolios within the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Resource
‘Improving the practice of cyber diplomacy: Training, tools, and other resources‘, research developed by the GFCE and Diplo, explains who the cyber diplomacy practitioners are, where cyber diplomacy is conducted, and which countries are the most active and inactive. The study also maps available training, tools, and other resources available, as well as how they help diplomats engage in cyber diplomacy. Importantly, the study also presents the findings of a survey and analyses how widely used these tools and resources are by diplomats around the world, with a focus on the countries and regions that are not as active in cyber diplomacy.
Through several thematic video interviews, cyber representatives look at the scope of cyber diplomacy, inclusiveness and roles of stakeholders, and skill sets that should be developed for cyber diplomacy. The interviews include:
- Amb. Nathalie Jaarsma (Ambassador-at-Large for Security Policy & Cyber, Netherlands)
- Mr Chris Painter (President, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) Foundation)
- Amb. Tobias Feakin (Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, Australia)
- Mr David Koh (Commissioner of Cybersecurity and Chief Executive of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore)
- Amb. Asoke Mukerji (former Ambassador of India)
4.1. Scope
🎯 Is cyber diplomacy about cybersecurity only?
4.2. Inclusiveness and roles of stakeholders
🎯 What role do non-state stakeholders play in cyber diplomacy, especially at regional levels?
🎯 Why is the inclusiveness of stakeholders important for reaching meaningful agreements?
4.3. Skill sets
🎯 What are the skills that cyber diplomats require?
🎯 What are the skills that other stakeholders need to contribute to cyber processes?
🎯 (Why and how) Should diplomats and non-diplomats work together? What is the role of other stakeholders?
Contribute and engage
Engage with the GFCE Working Group A, especially its Task Force 2 on cyber diplomacy, to share your perspectives on the matter, and assist with shaping further capacity-building resources, toolkits, and activities.
Contribute to the CyBil portal by submitting information about available resources, toolkits, and activities in Africa.