The U.S. State Department is in discussions with Congress to establish official channels for assisting foreign countries in preventing and recovering from cyberattacks and developing emerging technologies.
Nathaniel Fick, ambassador at large for the State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, said that the effort would involve a fund dedicated to technology support, as well as other forms of assistance. The cyber diplomat also mentioned that there is “broad bipartisan support” for the initiative on the Hill.
The goal of the program is to provide “holistic assistance” that goes beyond just dollars and software, to include training, capacity building, organizational and cultural assistance.
Fick said that the existing US assistance mechanism is “not architected” for cybersecurity matters, lacking the required flexibility to address cyber issues. This could include issues related to military or law enforcement organizations, which are the exact organizations that own those capabilities in partner countries where the US may want to help out.
The initiative would be based on a reapportionment of other resources to increase technology assistance, rather than creating a new assistance mechanism. Fick added that while the cyber assistance effort is underway, there needs to be a sense of prioritization, and it needs to serve US foreign policy priorities.
Last month, the White House provided $25 million to Costa Rica to aid in the recovery from a ransomware attack linked to Iran, while Albania received a similar grant last year after a destructive attack on its government, also attributed to Iranian hackers.
Fick’s office, which marked its first anniversary last week, has already made an impact on how Foggy Bottom conducts business in cyberspace.
