UK Intensifies Cybersecurity Initiatives in Southeast Asia

The recent event convened over 300 defence leaders, academics, and industry experts from 35 countries to tackle the escalating challenges posed by cyber threats, disinformation, and emerging technologies within a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Cyber threats are inherently transnational, and the United Kingdom’s involvement highlights the increasing significance of multilateral cooperation in addressing these issues. Lieutenant General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, Deputy Commander of Strategic Command, participated in discussions alongside panellists from Singapore and Japan, focusing on how training, doctrine, force structure, and capability development can create effective military forces for the digital era.

The UK delegation underscored the centrality of digital defence to operational readiness, emphasising the integration of cyber effects, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and autonomous systems with human judgement and ethical considerations. The panel also stressed the critical role of multinational operations and alliances in bolstering cyber resilience and interoperability. The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence (ACICE), established in 2021, serves as a regional hub to enhance defence cooperation across the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and beyond, fostering information sharing and a collective understanding of cyber and information warfare trends. The UK, as an ASEAN dialogue partner, plays a vital role in this collaborative effort.