The annual meeting of the Like-Minded Cyber Deterrence Group took place in Rome on 22 and 23 May. It is an informal multilateral initiative started in 2019 and aimed at improving diplomatic cooperation and intelligence sharing to prevent harmful cyber activities and coordinate global responses.
The event organized by the Foreign Ministry’s Unit for Technological Innovation and Cyber Security, is part of the Foreign Ministry’s commitment to international stability and cyberspace security, upon the initiative of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Antonio Tajani. He sent a message to participants in which he recalled the many international discussion tables and underlined the importance of collaboration between countries with a common approach in the face of growing threats in cyberspace.
The event was opened by the Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General, Amb. Riccardo Guariglia; the Deputy Director of the Department of Intelligence Security, Pref. Alessandra Guidi; the Head of the Strategy and Cooperation Service of the National Cybersecurity Agency, Amb. Massimo Marotti, and the Cyber Coordinator of the European External Action Service, Manon Le Blanc. The discussions were led by the Special Envoy of Minister Tajani for Cybersecurity, Min. Plen. Diego Brasioli.
The following is the Statement of the Presidency at the end of the meeting:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, hosted the annual meeting of the Like-Minded Cyber Deterrence Group on 22 and 23 May 2025, aimed at improving diplomatic cooperation and intelligence sharing to prevent harmful cyber activities and coordinate global responses. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Member States of the European Union and of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The global geopolitical scenario is characterized by increasing cyber threats across the world, where malicious cyber activities aim to destabilize our economies, societies and democratic structures. Faced with these growing challenges, participants discussed foreign policy approaches to current and emerging threats in the cyber domain and ways to build resilience against cyber activities that are inconsistent with the United Nations Framework on Responsible State Conduct in Cyberspace.
Building on the outcomes of previous meetings, participating countries reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to promote and maintain stability and security in cyberspace. A structured dialogue on cyber deterrence and policy responses remains essential, both internationally and within national cyber frameworks, to strengthen the collective ability to prevent, deter and respond to malicious cyber activities. This includes strengthening cooperation on attribution processes.
A simulated crisis scenario provided participants with the opportunity to assess evolving cyber threats, test policy responses and examine coordination mechanisms. Through interactive exchanges, delegates identified policy gaps, assessed decision-making challenges and considered diplomatic and operational responses.
The meeting proved to be a valuable forum to share perspectives on national strategies and evolving threats, enhancing mutual understanding and fostering collaboration on this matter of great strategic importance.
