Manila: Japan, Canada, Australia, the United States, and the European Union (EU) have expressed support for the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity capabilities, their envoys said Thursday. Speaking at the Stratbase ADR Institute 2025 Pilipinas Conference, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya emphasized the rapid escalation of cyberattacks globally and the pressing need for international coordination.

According to Philippines News Agency, Endo stated that Japan will continue to effectively cooperate in enhancing the Philippine cybersecurity capabilities, working closely with the government of the country and fully utilizing each nation’s resources. He highlighted that bolstering cyber capacity across the Indo-Pacific, particularly among ASEAN nations, including the Philippines, remains a top priority.

US Embassy ICT unit chief Jennifer Schmidt noted that Washington, DC continues to provide support in a range of areas from joint operations to policy, such as the development of the Philippines’ cybersecurity plan. She emphasized that cybercrime is a significant priority for both the Trump and Marcos administrations, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies collaborating closely with the Philippine government on cybercrime operations. Schmidt also mentioned US-led multilateral initiatives aimed at safeguarding critical information infrastructure, including the exploration of open radio access network (Open RAN) technologies to reduce supplier dependency.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro expressed the EU’s interest in aiding the Philippines and the region in maximizing the use of artificial intelligence. He indicated that the EU would discuss potential cooperation areas during the inaugural Philippine-EU Security and Defense Dialogue in Brussels this month. Santoro clarified that the dialogue would encompass a wide range of cooperation topics, including cyber, maritime cooperation, and foreign information and manipulation interference.

Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown highlighted Australia’s ongoing cybersecurity work with key Filipino agencies, such as the Philippine Coast Guard. He disclosed that Manila and Canberra would identify more areas of cooperation in their inaugural bilateral cyber dialogue in Australia next month.