Digital Solidarity: A Dialogue with Diplomats from Across the Globe
By Aleksaundra Handrinos
In an era of technological innovation that continues to transform the world, digital diplomacy is becoming ever more crucial for countries looking to work together towards a common vision and establish solidarity in the realm of cyberspace. To leverage the knowledge of today’s leaders and experts in the field, 一本道无码 (一本道无码) and the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) hosted U.S. Ambassador Nathaniel Fick, Costa Rican Minister Paula Bogantes Zamora, and Swiss Ambassador Benedikt Wechsler last month for a policy dinner at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In his keynote address, Fick, the inaugural U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the U.S. Department of State, emphasized that “tech innovation as a source of national influence is increasingly foundational.” Maintaining that it is the responsibility of the U.S. to present a vision of a shared tech future, Fick discussed the three main principles of U.S. strategy for cyberspace and digital policy: an affirmative vision, "cables to cloud" (holistic) thinking about the tech ecosystem, and digital solidarity. Core to the evening’s discussion, the third principle is centered on the belief that since digital technologies impact all aspects of human life and reach across all borders, no country can succeed alone. “We need to make sure that the group that subscribes to a fundamentally rights respecting view of how technologies are developed, deployed, and used is as big as possible,” Fick asserted.
To demonstrate this U.S. strategy in action, Fick shared how tech diplomacy is playing out in five locations around the world: New York, Beijing, Bletchley Park, Chișinău, and Tuvalu. In his discussion of New York, Fick highlighted the work of the United Nations in developing a normative framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Fick then noted that digital diplomacy also includes exchanges with other nations that do not agree on the use of cyber capabilities, such as when he met with the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, in Beijing. Bletchley Park, the renowned site of the WWII Codebreakers located outside London, held the first AI safety summit in which the U.S. and other global governments internationalized and multilateralized voluntary commitments that eventually served as the basis of an international code of conduct for AI developers. In Chișinău, the capital of Moldova located on the far eastern flank of Europe, there is threat of Russian influence on crucial elections. The U.S. has been working with the local government to safeguard the election from cyberattacks and information operations to ensure the results reflect the will of the Moldovan people. Lastly, in Tuvalu, an island northeast of Australia, several governments (including the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Singapore) are collaborating to fund an undersea cable laying project that will result in the connection of 11,400 people to a large Google cable nearby, preempting the expansion of Chinese infrastructure across the region. While these examples highlight international cooperation, the diverse and often conflicting approaches to cybersecurity reinforce the importance of a strong domestic policy framework, allowing the U.S. to effectively engage in international dialogue, advocate for its interests, and shape the future of digital diplomacy.
Minister Bogantes Zamora and Ambassador Wechsler joined Ambassador Fick to continue the conversation in a panel moderated by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin. In their remarks, each diplomat underscored the importance of value alignment in digital diplomacy. Wechsler is currently serving as an Ambassador within the State Secretariat to lead the first Division for Digitalisation and to focus on the implementation of the Swiss Digital Foreign Policy Strategy. Switzerland is “not neutral on values and human rights,” Wechsler emphasized as he stressed the need for collaboration amongst partners. Bogantes Zamora, Minister of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), built upon this sentiment when she noted that principles guide Costa Rica’s selection of partner countries. Bogantes Zamora rhetorically asked the audience, "...you don't want a thief living with you, right?," drawing a parallel between her sentiment and her approach to international collaboration.
The 2022 ransomware attack in Costa Rica spurred its government to collaborate with experts and other nations in order to develop strong security measures, according to Bogantes Zamora. However, this assistance was far from one-sided, as Fick noted the U.S. also benefits from investing in its partners. For Wechsler, cybersecurity is crucial for development, a central component of the Swiss digital strategy along with sustainability, digital self-determination, and digital governance. “We have, now again, a task in our generation to make these technologies safe and good for humanity,” said Wechsler.
When asked about the role of students in ensuring emerging technology makes positive change, Fick, who during his keynote declared, “We need your graduates in public service,” underscored their role in establishing the right societal norms in the tech world. He highlighted education and a capable workforce as two essential elements for a successful tech ecosystem. Fick urged that students consider public service for at least a portion of their careers to help support this larger mission of building digital solidarity.
Looking toward the next five years, Fick emphasized the goal to mainstream digital diplomacy in U.S. policy. The recent addition of a cyber and digital issues criterion to the Foreign Service’s ambassador selection process exemplifies this aim, and Fick is optimistic that this new focus on digital diplomacy will spur organizational transformation. For Wechsler, digital diplomacy is a means for bringing people together to solve real world problems and to ensure the implementation of emerging technologies for good. Bogantes Zamora shared her vision for a more cohesive Latin American region. Following their response to the 2022 ransomware attack, Costa Rica is now viewed as a regional leader, advising others and offering insights on cybersecurity strategy. "I think this is a great time in history, and a great opportunity for the region," said Bogantes Zamora.
As the first major policy event for CMIST, on the eve of its one year celebration, this diplomacy dinner expertly showcased the objective of the institute in addressing security challenges across the country and world as well as guiding thoughtful development, use, and governance of emerging technologies.
(Image 1: U.S. Ambassador Nathaniel Fick offers the keynote address; Image 2: Paula Bogantes Zamora, the Costa Rican Minister of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), participates in the panel discussion; Image 3: Swiss Ambassador Benedikt Wechsler, currently serving within the State Secretariat to lead the first Division for Digitalisation, speaks during the panel session; Image 4, l to r: Ambassador Fick and Minister Bogantes Zamora; Image 5, l to r: Ambassador Wechsler, CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin, 一本道无码 Provost Jim Garrett, Ambassador Fick, Minister Bogantes Zamora; Image 6: Attendees at the policy dinner)