The United States and Singapore conducted the inaugural United States-Singapore Cyber Dialogue (USSCD) on 20 October 2022 on the sidelines of the 7th Singapore International Cyber Week at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore. Co-chaired by Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) Chief Executive David Koh and United States Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nate Fick, the dialogue was attended by officials from a wide range of agencies from both countries.
2. During the dialogue, officials discussed bilateral cooperation in various areas including developments in multinational and regional fora, information sharing, protection of critical information infrastructure, countering ransomware, supply chain security, regional cyber capacity building, cyber talent and workforce development, and combatting digital scams. Both sides also agreed to hold the next USSCD in Washington, DC, as well as on the establishment of a bilateral Working Group on the Intersection of Technology and Cyber between CSA and the United States’ Office of the National Cyber Director.
3. Chief Executive Koh said, “This dialogue allows us to bring together policymakers across the breadth of both our governments, to think about cyber issues holistically, and institutionalise the trusted cyber partnership between Singapore and the United States.”
4. Ambassador Fick said, “Looking at the size of the crowd we have gathered [at this dialogue], it is a testament to the importance of our bilateral relationship that we have such engagement across both our governments.”
5. First announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and U.S. President Biden in March 2022, the USSCD will serve as a platform to bring together officials from cyber policy, operational and technical elements of government agencies in both countries to discuss practical cooperation on a regular basis.
6. Singapore and the United States share deep mutual interests in enhancing cyber and digital security cooperation, particularly as cybersecurity has become a key enabler for both countries to leverage the benefits of digitalisation to grow their economies and improve the lives of their people.