Asia

This DGAP Memo argues that Germany and other EU member states should apply norm-setting to the niches where great powers see a pragmatic need to deepen trust. In this vein, they should table an initiative to the United States and China to sign a political declaration that they will not conduct any cyber operations against select critical infrastructure – early warning satellites, nuclear command and control systems, electrical grids – of the parties involved during peacetime. Such a declaration could serve as an example for other norm-setting measures with which Germany could help build welcome trust at a time when geopolitical tensions and risks of misperception are particularly high.