On June 13 and 14, 2024, the United States Department of State hosted representatives from 22 countries and the European Union to discuss efforts to deter malicious cyber activity and coordinate international responses. The event was led by Liesyl Franz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Cyberspace and Digital Policy Bureau’s Office of International Cyberspace Security.
Representatives from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the European Union exchanged views and national experiences.
Participants recognized that every country faces different circumstances. They noted the growing cyber challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the global ransomware threat, the war in Ukraine, and malicious cyber activity designed to destabilize and undermine democratic processes and societies. Nearly half of the world's population will be going to the polls in 2024. Representatives considered foreign policy approaches to current and emerging threats in cyberspace and building resilience against those that transgress norms of responsible state behavior using all tools of statecraft.
Building on previous meetings hosted by the European Union in 2022 and Canada in 2023, participating countries reaffirmed the importance of upholding the UN-affirmed Framework for Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace. They demonstrated clear resolve to continue working together on promoting and maintaining stability and security in cyberspace.
