The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has partnered with the U.K.’s Department for Business and Trade and Australia’s Department of Industry, Science, and Resources to form the U.S.-U.K.-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Cooperation Group. This collaboration aims to strengthen supply chain resilience, particularly in the telecommunications sector, which the respective parties say is crucial for economic security and the daily functioning of modern society.
A key component of this initiative is the establishment of an early warning system designed to monitor and evaluate potential disruptions in telecommunications supply chains. This sector includes satellite and subsea communications, with undersea fiber optic cables carrying over 95 percent of transoceanic data traffic, essential for the operation of smartphones, financial networks, and communication systems.
The U.K. and Australia are the first countries to formalize cooperation with DHS’s Supply Chain Resilience Center through a Memorandum of Understanding, according to DHS. Launched in 2023, the center works with federal partners and private sector stakeholders to identify supply chain vulnerabilities and mitigate potential disruptions, ensuring the delivery of essential goods and services. It serves as a hub for U.S. government and industry partners to anticipate and plan for potential supply chain disruptions. The center’s personnel come from various DHS branches, including FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Collectively, they offer extensive expertise in supply chain management, says DHS.
This proactive approach aims to protect the distribution of public safety information and ensure the reliable operation of essential services. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “The resilience of our critical supply chains is a homeland security and economic security imperative. Our new U.S.-U.K.-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Cooperation Group will help ensure that our communities continue to have the essential goods and services they need when they need them.”
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