Context: Officials from the United States, India, and Taiwan gathered for a cybersecurity workshop on December 11-12 under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF).

Landmark Global Cooperation and Training Framework Cybersecurity Workshop Hosted In-Person in India

• This was the first Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) program to be held in person in India.
• The United Service Institution of India (USI), Lieutenant General Rajesh Pant, the former national cyber security coordinator of India, Taiwan’s representative to India, Eric Garcetti, the US ambassador to India, and Baushuan Ger co-hosted the event.

GCTF: Fostering Global Cooperation with Taiwan’s Expertise and Multilateral Initiatives

• Establishment: The GCTF was established in 2015 as a joint initiative between the United States and Taiwan.
• Purpose: 
  • To utilize Taiwan’s strengths and expertise to address global issues of mutual concern.  
  • To assist countries in the Indo-Pacific for their capacity-building efforts through training programs for officials and experts, while enhancing Taiwan’s multilateral cooperation throughout the region.
• Focus Areas: Public Health, Law enforcement cooperation, women’s empowerment, energy efficiency, e-commerce, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief (HA/DR), and media literacy.
• Expansion and Partnerships: The full partners (currently Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and Australia) regularly hold GCTF Joint Committee meetings to review events of the year and decide on prospective areas of cooperation for the coming year.
  • Japan became a full partner to this framework in 2019
  • Australia announced its full partnership in 2021.
  • India has not formally joined as a full partner of GCTF.

GCTF as a Key to Global Presence and Security Alignment

• Taiwan’s Strategic Utilization of the GCTF: For Taiwan, the GCTF serves as a vital platform for sharing its significant expertise in areas often restricted in many international institutions.
  • Further, the collaboration could be seen as a tacit support for Taiwan’s international presence, despite its exclusion from global platforms.
• Countering Digital Threats amidst China’s Growing Influence: Trilateral partnership indicates a growing convergence of interests amongst the United States, India, and Taiwan, particularly in countering digital threats and enhancing collective security in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • This move could be perceived as a strategic alignment to balance China’s rising influence.

News Source: Business Standard