The 60-year-old mutual defense treaty between the United States and Australia will soon cover cybercrime, meaning the two nations will be obliged to support one another if they are the target of an online attack.
Defense and diplomatic leaders from both nations are meeting in San Francisco today for their annual talks on security, and plan to release a joint statement noting that the ANZUS treaty now applies to cyber space, a senior defense official told Reuters. It will mark the first time that the cyber world will be included in a U.S. mutual defense treaty that involves a nation outside of NATO.
“Cyber is the battlefield of the future,” U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters Wednesday night on his way to San Francisco. “We're all going to have to work very hard not only to defend against cyber attacks but to be aggressive with regards to cyber attacks as well. And the best way to accomplish that is not only on our own but by working with our partners.”
The move falls in line with the Department of Defense's newly minted strategy for cyber defense, which included plans for more “robust international relationships” to help combat hackers and other online criminals.
Governments around the world have been pushing for more law enforcement cooperation due to the recent onslaught of high profile cyber crimes targeting major corporations and government entities. Authorities have made a number of arrests, but still seem to be a few steps behind prolific hacktivist organizations like Anonymous and Lulzsec.
The U.S. and its allies also need to keep their eye on other nations, including China, which has been blamed by some for at least two cyber intrusions over the last year. China has denied that it had a role in any of the attacks, and has said that it too is the target of a “wide range” of cyber crimes.
Bloomberg (News - Alert) has also reported that the U.S. and Australia are close to buttoning up an agreement that would allow the U.S. to pre-position military vessels, aircraft and personnel at various bases and ports down under. This would give the U.S. a greater presence in the Pacific region, inhabited by nations like North Korea and China.
Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
