Cyberattacks to Be Considered Armed Aggression: Australia, NZ Leaders

Analysis “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a useful maxim in geopolitics. The longstanding and generally positive relationship between Australia and New Zealand means meetings between the two countries’ leaders rarely spur significant announcements, let alone surprises. But there was one: a declaration that any cyber-attack against either nation could constitute an armed attack under Article IV of the ANZUS Treaty, with that decision being made on a case-by-case basis. “Australia and New Zealand would consult together under the ANZUS Treaty to determine appropriate options to address the threat,” the statement said, in the clearest warning yet to foreign government actors that an attack with ones and zeroes may now be viewed as seriously as one carried out with bullets and bombs....