Co-Chairs' Statement on Fifth U.S.-ASEAN Cyber Policy Dialogue ...

The Fifth U.S.-ASEAN Cyber Policy Dialogue was held in Singapore on October 17, 2024.  The Dialogue was a demonstration of strong partnerships and a shared vision of an open, peaceful, interoperable, reliable, and secure cyberspace that supports international trade and commerce, strengthens international security, and fosters economic prosperity, free expression, and innovation.  The United States and Cambodia co-chaired the dialogue.

Reaffirming the U.S.-ASEAN. Leaders’ Statement on Promoting Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence adopted at the 12th U.S.-ASEAN Summit in October 2024, participants discussed how states can enhance the positive, collaborative nature of the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance a shared, affirmative vision for cyberspace, digital technologies, and the digital economy.

Recalling the U.S.-ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation adopted at the Sixth U.S.-ASEAN Summit in November 2018, which reaffirmed a shared vision of “a peaceful, secure, and resilient regional cyberspace,” and the convening of the Fourth U.S.-ASEAN Cyber Policy Dialogue held last year during Singapore International Cyber Week, the Dialogue fostered an exchange of views on the regional and international cyber environment, as well as domestic cyber policies and priorities, including cooperation in international and regional venues.

Participants reaffirmed their commitments to support and implement the framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, including in ongoing discussions within the UN Open-Ended Working Group.

Participants acknowledged progress in fostering greater regional cybersecurity cooperation and capacity building, as well as the importance of continued implementation of cyber confidence building measures to reduce the risk of misperception and escalation in cyberspace.  This includes efforts advanced through the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies, and the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity.  Participants also committed to increasing efforts on capacity building and regional cybersecurity cooperation.

Participants highlighted collaborative efforts to strengthen and build our collective cyber capacity.  The discussion highlighted strengthening regional cooperation on cyber capacity building, including through partnership initiatives and programs such as the U.S.-Singapore Third Country Training Program on Cybersecurity, Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership, ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre, the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, and the U.S.-ASEAN Connect Digital Economy Series.  It also focused on ASEAN’s efforts to build its capacity to protect critical infrastructure, which includes industrial control systems, and efforts to combat cybercrime.  Participants also discussed potential efforts to integrate cybersecurity into relevant exchange programs for government officials.

The Dialogue advances the cooperation between the United States and ASEAN outlined under the U.S.-ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action, the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and the principles and vision of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025.

Through the Dialogue, participants committed to explore the possibility of convening the Sixth U.S.-ASEAN Cyber Policy Dialogue in 2025 on the sidelines of Singapore International Cyber Week.