Switzerland and the USA aligned on cybersecurity and digital technology

The interdepartmental delegations of the Swiss government need the US one met on June 7, 2023 in Washington to report on each other's policies in the areas of cyber security and digitization, with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation in these fields.
The dialogue was chaired by Liesyl Franz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, and by the Ambassador Benedikt Weschler, Head of the Digitization Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
The US was represented by the State Department (Office of Cyberspace and Digital Policy; Office of International Narcotics Affairs and Law Enforcement; Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Office of European and Eurasians; Embassy of the United States of America in Bern) and by the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security and Justice, as well as by the Office of the National Cyber ​​Director of the White House.
Switzerland was represented by the Federal Departments of Energy, Transport, Environment and Communications, Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Justice and Police, as well as the Swiss Embassy in Washington.
This is the second bilateral dialogue on cybersecurity , digital technology between the two countries. The first took place online in early July 2020.

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The target? Advance bilateral cooperation on a broad range of issues

The goal was to advance bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues, compare priorities, exchange information and promote safety and stability in the cyber and digital space.
The meeting made it possible to consolidate cooperation on key issues, such as the application of international law in cyberspace and the role of Switzerland as a guest state in the digital field.
In this context, the protection of international organizations present in Geneva is of paramount importance.
Some topics and initiatives where medium-term collaboration needs to be intensified have been identified, for example the fight against ransomware , internet freedom.
During the meeting, the two delegations recalled the commitments and cooperation in multilateral bodies, but also the bilateral initiatives proposed by the United States or the Switzerland.
Issues relating to digital trade will remain a topic covered by the CH-US Joint Economic Commissions.

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Interdepartmental cooperation is essential to make cyberspace safer

The Swiss delegation, led in the District of Columbia by the ambassador Benedikt Wechsler, included representatives not only of the FDFA but also of the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), the National Center for Cybersecurity (NCSC), FEDPOL and the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
The US delegation was instead composed of several agencies, led by the Department of State's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, created in 2022.
The large number of participants reflected the multidimensional nature of the theme.
La digitization it is affecting every aspect of our daily lives and our way of living together.
As part of the implementation of its digital foreign policy strategy, the Switzerland prioritizes interdepartmental and international cooperation, and is committed to a free, open and secure digital space, multilaterally and through bilateral dialogue.
There is also an involvement of actors from the scientific and economic world, as happened recently in San Francisco in the context of a "Tech Retreat" jointly organized by Denmark and Australia.
In this context, the United States has been and will be an essential partner for the Switzerland.

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