Beyond cyber diplomacy: navigating challenges in the cyberspace and electromagnetic environments

Cyber diplomacy fosters international cooperation, trust and the establishment of norms to address cross-border cybersecurity challenges in an interconnected world. It plays a central role in the international community and the EU, tackling hybrid threats from malicious cyber activities that jeopardise critical infrastructure, disrupt socio-economic stability and undermine peace. The global community uses cyber diplomacy through various initiatives to deter cyberattacks, enhance resilience and maintain a rules-based cyberspace. However, contemporary threats cannot be understood solely through the lens of current cyber diplomacy; they must be viewed holistically. This study examines global and EU cyber diplomacy efforts using a novel methodological approach that integrates the space-cyberspace nexus, the electromagnetic environment and activities to counter contemporary threats. Analyses of Russian foreign policy, particularly its use of hybrid tactics, highlight the urgent need for holistic diplomacy to address evolving challenges in today's complex information environment, reshaping the global security landscape and geopolitical dynamics.