Expanding the Cyber Mission Space with the Expansion of Security Cooperation in the Era of Great Power Competition

Abstract

As great power competition intensifies, cybersecurity has emerged as both a battleground and an opportunity for cooperation. Malign actors exploit cyber infrastructure to undermine international order while simultaneously presenting themselves as contributors to economic growth. This paper proposes a novel framework for managing cybersecurity challenges by establishing regional Cyber Centers of Excellence (CCoEs), aligned with existing internet governance structures. The research outlines three key contributions: (1) mapping cyberspace governance to align cyber defense responsibilities with existing regional partnerships, (2) enhancing multinational mission assurance through CCoEs as collaborative hubs, and (3) leveraging proactive cyber operations such as “hunt forward” to increase partner capacity against cyber threats. By integrating established security cooperation mechanisms with new cybersecurity frameworks, this paper offers policymakers and cybersecurity professionals a roadmap to strengthen global cyber defense efforts while balancing national sovereignty and collective security.