Preparing for emerging risks: AI, cyber governance, and nuclear security cooperation in Southeast Asia

This Perspective article examines the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) initiatives to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber security governance and explores their potential to reinforce nuclear security in Southeast Asia. It argues that as digital technologies become increasingly embedded in nuclear facilities and supply chains, integrating cyber security into nuclear security frameworks is imperative. The study recommends the development of a regional action plan or roadmap to (i) embed cyber security more systematically into nuclear security policies, (ii) deepen cooperation among ASEAN member states, and (iii) raise awareness of the AI–cyber–nuclear security nexus among industry, civil society, and academia. The paper also highlights the roles of key regional and international actors, including the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM), ASEAN cyber security institutions, AI safety think tanks, and Track II expert networks, in advancing cooperation and knowledge-sharing in this emerging domain. Drawing on the author’s experience with the Nuclear Energy Experts Group of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP), the paper illustrates how Track II dialogues have facilitated the identification of AI–cyber–nuclear security risks, raised awareness among policymakers, scientists, and academics, and informed ongoing discussions on enhancing nuclear security governance in Southeast Asia.