TRUSTED CONNECTIVITY: SECURING DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN AN ERA OF STRATEGIC COMPETITION WITH CHINA - The Atlantic Council hosted the first event in the forum “Trusted Connectivity: Securing Digital Infrastructure in an Era of Strategic Competition with China,” featuring President of Estonia H.E. Kersti Kaljulaid. This event, co-hosted by the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and its Forward Defense practice area, the Digital Forensic Research Lab, the Europe Center, and the GeoTech Center, took place on June 30, 2021.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is rapidly accelerating the pace of technological development, resulting in both economic opportunities and major security challenges. While advancements in digital and physical infrastructure can transform a variety of key sectors, such as energy, transportation, and communications, they have also exacerbated technological competition with revisionist geopolitical actors. Through its Belt and Road Initiative, China’s global infrastructure investments threaten to accumulate widespread influence and provide sensitive data to Beijing, opening potential vectors for coercion, disruption, or attack in times of crisis or conflict. Following consensus amongst nations at the G7 Leaders’ Summit on how to counter this influence, the Atlantic Council’s “Trusted Connectivity” forum further discussed the need for transatlantic cooperation to build secure digital infrastructure in the United States, Europe, and around the world.

As Estonia prepared to host the Tallinn Digital Summit this September to drive the conversation on digitalization in Europe, President of Estonia H.E. Kersti Kaljulaid joined us to discuss the future of trusted connectivity in an era of strategic and technological competition. President Kaljulaid was joined by Anne Neuberger, US Deputy National Security Advisor for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technology, who shared how the imperative to invest in secure digital infrastructure relates to US initiatives, such as Build Back Better World. Together, addressed how democratic nations can work with each other and with the private sector to incentivize ambitious infrastructure investments, boost economic growth, and promote regional and global security. Their conversation was moderated by Kim Dozier, CNN’s Global Affairs Analyst with an extensive background in foreign and national security policy issues.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 06/30/21