STATEMENT BY MR MARK SEAH, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON CYBER SECURITY “MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: ADDRESSING EVOLVING THREATS IN CYBERSPACE”, 20 JUNE 2024

Mr President,

We thank the Republic of Korea for convening today’s meeting on this important issue.

2        Since the Security Council’s first open debate on cybersecurity that took place in June 2021, the cyber threat landscape has continued to evolve, at a worrying pace. Against this backdrop, international cooperation at the United Nations is vital and indispensable to combat the global and transboundary nature of the cyber threat landscape. 

3        In this regard, it is necessary for the General Assembly and the Security Council work together to strengthen adherence to the normative framework of responsible state behaviour, based on the application of international law and respect for the principles of the UN Charter. As a small State, Singapore has always supported a  multilateral system based on the rule of law. Our approach is no different when it comes cybersecurity , which is of vital importance for many small and developing States. 

4        Singapore firmly believes in the importance of the UN as a key platform for discussing the development and implementation of the rules, norms and principles of responsible state behaviour that govern cyberspace.

5        Singapore is honoured to have served since 2021 as Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of ICTs 2021-2025 (OEWG). The OEWG builds on more than two decades of work at the UN, which have resulted in a cumulative and evolving framework for responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs endorsed by all UN Member States. It is encouraging to note that the OEWG has made good progress over the past three years in further strengthening the normative framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace. 

6        The OEWG has also served as a valuable confidence-building measure in and of itself. In addition to the common understandings reached in the OEWG’s two Annual Progress Reports agreed by consensus in July 2022 and July 2023 respectively, the OEWG has spearheaded the development and operationalization of concrete action-oriented initiatives that have an important role to play in enhancing international peace and security in cyberspace, most notably in the form of the Global Points of Contact Directory, which was officially launched on 9 May 2024. Last May, the OEWG also convened a successful and substantive ministerial-level meeting on ICT security capacity building.  The key message from this meeting was that capacity-building is urgently needed to help many small and developing countries to attain cyber resilience.  Equally important, there was widespread recognition that capacity building can be an important means of building confidence and trust between states.

Mr President,

7        In your guiding questions, you asked how cyber threats are interlinked with other Security Council agenda items and what specific role the UNSC can play in addressing international peace and security challenges emanating from cyberspace.  Given the ongoing work undertaken in the General Assembly, it is important for the Security Council to avoid duplicating the work already done in other processes.   At the same time, however, we must recognize that the Security Council has a clear mandate to discuss matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security. We cannot rule out the possibility that a cyber-incident could create misunderstanding between states and lead to an escalation and potentially conflict, thereby creating an incident of international peace and security.  We cannot, therefore, rule out a role for the Security Council, as part of its Charter-given responsibility for the maintenance of   international peace and security The Security Council should therefore take an inclusive view of what constitutes threats to international peace and security, and operate with the awareness that cyber threats can have physical and real-world consequences.

8        In this regard, we are open to the idea of the Security Council continuing to convene UNSC open debates such as the one today, as a means of exchanging information and enhancing understanding between member states. The discussions in the Council can help to inform the General Assembly’s work, including in areas of capacity building and confidence building measures, and further help strengthen the framework for responsible State behaviour, including in considering how best to apply rules, norms and principles against existing and potential cyber threats.

Mr President,

9        Let me conclude by underlining the need for greater international cooperation in order to strengthen our collective resilience in cyberspace. Promoting greater cooperation between the UNSC and the General Assembly on international peace and security issues and working together in a sustained, holistic and synergistic manner will better enable the international community to preserve international peace and security in the domain of cyberspace. Singapore stands ready to work with all Member States towards this goal.

10      Thank you.

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