On September 14th, 2011, Reuters reported on how the United States and Australia will include the cyber realm as a party of a mutual defense treaty. This commitment is the first explicit application of the cyber realm to a mutual defense treaty outside of NATO. The treaty essential means that a cyber attack on one nation could lead to a response by both nations.
This new cyber development comes as both US and Australian defense and diplomatic chiefs meet in San Francisco some 60 years after the birth of the ANZUS military alliance. ANZUS commits Australia and the United States to support each other if one is attacked. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta went on to say that "We're all going to have to work very hard not only to defend against cyber attacks but to be aggressive with regards to cyber attacks as well. And the best way to accomplish that is not only on our own but by working with our partners."
The original article can be found here.
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