Workshop on International Law in Cyberspace: Developing Mexico’s National Positioning

Workshop on International Law in Cyberspace: Developing Mexico’s National Positioning

The Workshop on International Law in Cyberspace, held from November 4–6, 2025, provided Mexico’s multistakeholder community with a comprehensive foundation for developing national positioning.

The introductory course opened with remarks from Ambassador Ulises Canchola and Guillermo Moncayo of the OAS/CICTE, setting the stage for a deep dive into the cyber domain as a complex ecosystem of state and non-state actors.

On the first day, participants examined the UN Framework for Responsible State Behavior and analyzed core legal principles such as sovereignty and due diligence through a case study on critical infrastructure intrusions. The second day shifted toward the mechanics of State Responsibility and the complexities of legal versus political attribution.

Attendees explored a variety of response options, including diplomatic sanctions and countermeasures, which they then applied during a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) simulating a coordinated cyberattack on regional energy systems.

The final day of the workshop focused on the application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to cyber operations during armed conflict. Guest speakers Dr. Tilman Rodenhäuser from the ICRC and Dr. Agnes Kasper from the NATO CCDCoE provided expert insights into the definition of a cyber “attack” and the methodology for drafting national legal positions.

Participants engaged with the core IHL principles of distinction and proportionality by evaluating scenarios involving hospital system failures and the targeting of ICT infrastructure in neutral third-party states. The program concluded with a synthesis of key takeaways and closing remarks from the Government of Mexico and the OAS, leaving participants with a development matrix to guide their future contributions to Mexico’s international legal strategy.