On 15 May, during the Geneva Cyber Week 2025, EU Cyber Direct - EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative co-organised a roundtable in collaboration with the Advancing the Cyber Programme of Action Project, implemented by the EU Institute for Security Studies.
As digital technologies continue to advance, the stability and safety of the cyber domain a moving target, posing ongoing challenges for cyber diplomacy. This fast-changing landscape underscores the need for international cooperation approaches that are collaborative across initiatives and communities addressing the safety and security of technology from multiple, yet complementary, perspectives.
In this context, the roundtable, titled “The Multifaceted Nature of Cyber Diplomacy – Connecting Communities for Inclusive International Cooperation,” examined the evolution of cyber diplomacy across key international forums which, despite the critical importance of each cooperation effort, often remain disconnected, hindering progress towards secure and inclusive digital connectivity.
Participants engaged in an open dialogue aimed at:
• Examining the evolving landscape of cyber diplomacy and its role in addressing global cybersecurity challenges.
• Strengthening multistakeholder engagement by bringing together diverse perspectives to identify strategies for cross-sectoral and cross-regional cooperation.
• Promoting integrated diplomatic efforts to overcome policy silos to advance more effective and coordinated global digital cooperation
The session offered insights into how to strengthen cooperation across initiatives, communities, and regions to improve cyber diplomacy coherence at the global level. By deepening multistakeholder dialogue and identifying practical strategies for bridging institutional and geographic gaps, the discussion aims to contribute to more inclusive, coordinated efforts toward secure and resilient digital cooperation and cybersecurity governance.
The roundtable was moderated by Andrea Calderaro, Director EU Cyber Direct Initiative and Advancing the Cyber PoA Project, EU Institute for Security Studies.
Speakers included:
• Chris Painter, FMR President of the Global Forum of Cyber Expertise and Founding Partner of Cyber Policy Group
• Chengetai Masango, Head of the United Nations Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum
• Sadhvi Saran, Strategy and Policy Advisor, Emerging Technology Division, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Konstantinos Komaitis, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council's Democracy + Tech Initiative
Geneva Cyber Week 2025, held from 12 to 16 May in Geneva, Switzerland, is an inaugural event co-organised by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). It aims to foster international dialogue on cybersecurity, digital governance, and cyber diplomacy.
