Readout: National Cyber Director Harry Coker Travels to Japan to Drive Digital Solidarity Efforts

December 9, 2024

This week, National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr. traveled to Tokyo to meet with leaders who are driving Japan’s digital and cyber security efforts. This event builds on previous ONCD international engagements this fall, specifically trips to Estonia and Singapore, which expanded our partnerships for global digital solidarity and underscored the importance of working together to tackle cybersecurity challenges. The U.S.-Japan Alliance is a cornerstone of mutual respect and prosperity in the region, and ONCD traveled to deepen collaboration on cybersecurity with its key partner.

During this trip, Director Coker continued efforts to build digital solidarity though engagement with cybersecurity and national security government officials. He also met with Japanese private industry to expand cooperation and support for growing the international cyber workforce and driving foundational security throughout the global supply chain.

The visit provided an opportunity for ONCD to share perspectives on effective partnership with the private sector, the importance of Government collaboration to inform unified policy, and the evolving threats in the cyber domain. This trip presented an avenue to exchange ideas centered around national cyber strategies, allowing ONCD to highlight its National Cybersecurity Strategy and National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, and to learn more about Japan’s guiding cyber principles. As the United States and Japan experience similar challenges and opportunities in the cyber arena, this trip served as a platform to discuss relevant concerns and areas for future cooperation to protect and harness the interconnected digital ecosystem.

Cooperation with the international community is crucial to the fight against cyber threats from criminal and Nation-state actors. No country can, nor should, tackle this problem alone. It is important now, more than ever before, that like-minded Nations continue to safeguard shared values and secure the digital future. This necessity means that sustained international exchanges with industry and Government leaders must remain a priority in order to ensure a resilient and prosperous digital ecosystem.