Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets with Australia-U.S. Cyber Security experts in Washington

February 22, 2018

WASHINGTON, February 22, 2018 — Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia and senior Australian officials met today with Kirstjen Nielsen, U.S. secretary of homeland security; Admiral Michael S. Rogers (USN), commander, U.S. Cyber Command, director, National Security Agency, and chief, Central Security Service; and senior U.S. government officials and industry and think-tank cybersecurity experts. The high-level roundtable was hosted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) at CSIS Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
 
Discussion focused on how to deter and respond to unacceptable behavior in cyberspace—particularly by states and their proxies—and how to strengthen coordination between government and the private sector. The outcomes will frame the agenda for the second 1.5 Track Australia-U.S. Cyber Security Dialogue to be held in April 2018.
 
“Prime Minister Turnbull is demonstrating real leadership to address the great challenges of cybersecurity. CSIS is proud to partner with the Australian government on such a crucial endeavor,” said John Hamre, president and CEO of CSIS.
 
“We’re delighted Prime Minister Turnbull was again able to participate in the U.S.-Australia 1.5 track cyber dialogue,” the head of the ASPI International Cyber Policy Centre, Fergus Hanson, said. “Having the top decisionmakers in the same room discussing the most pressing cyber challenges means we can get straight to the big issues.”
 
“Cooperation with like-minded countries is the best way to improve cybersecurity, and cooperation between the United States and Australia is crucial for security in the Asia-Pacific region,” said James A. Lewis, senior vice president at CSIS.