Evolving Diplomacy in the Digital Age: A Recap of the Inaugural ARIN Government Affairs Department Diplomatic Forum
On 21 May 2025, the ARIN Government Affairs Department hosted its first-ever ARIN Diplomatic Forum in New York City. The high-level symposium addressed how emerging digital trends are reshaping the practice and priorities of international diplomacy and the role ARIN and other Internet organizations play in supporting a secure and resilient global Internet.
Held under the theme “Evolving Diplomacy in the Digital Age,” the forum created a space for timely and practical dialogue among diplomatic officials, including consuls general and policy leaders from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region. Organized in collaboration with the CARICOM Consulates Corps and hosted at the Jamaican Consulate in downtown Manhattan, the one-day event was facilitated by ARIN’s Director of Caribbean Affairs, Bevil Wooding, and Senior Director of Trust and Public Safety, Leslie Nobile.
Addressing a Transforming Environment
Bevil Wooding delivered the feature address, titled “The Present Future: Evolving Diplomacy in the Digital Age.” He emphasized the need for governments — particularly small island developing states — to participate in global Internet governance fora. “Diplomacy today extends far beyond traditional government-to-government channels,” he noted. “It now operates within a landscape shaped by platforms, algorithms, and data flows that cross borders and jurisdictions. To safeguard national interests, it is essential for countries — especially small states — to have a voice in the global arenas where digital policies are being shaped.”
The address also outlined how artificial intelligence, digital surveillance, and cyber threats are transforming the operating environment for diplomats, requiring new skill sets and sustained investment in digital capacity-building.
Presentations from Leslie Nobile explored the growing intersection between cybersecurity and diplomatic policy. “Understanding the technical foundations of the Internet is critical for today’s diplomatic community,” she explained. “As cyber threats grow more complex and interconnected, diplomats must be equipped not just to respond to incidents, but to anticipate them and influence the policy frameworks that govern global digital infrastructure.”
Global and Regional Leaders
Senior officials from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Alexey Trepykhalin and Veni Markovski, provided global context on Internet governance and the importance of regional participation in multistakeholder decision-making.
The event also featured remarks by three senior Caribbean diplomats: The Honourable Andre Laveau, Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago; The Honourable Alsion Wilson, Consul General of Jamaica; and The Honourable Jeremiah Hyacinth, Consul General of Saint Lucia. Each underscored the relevance of the forum for strengthening diplomatic effectiveness in a fast-changing global environment.
“The digital age demands that our foreign service officers be equipped with the tools, training, and confidence to lead in new domains,” Laveau said. Wilson added that digital literacy is now essential to the delivery of modern consular services, and Hyacinth praised the Diplomatic Forum as a timely initiative with implications for Caribbean missions worldwide.
Engagement and Continued Commitment
The interactive session was described by attendees as timely, open, insightful, and extremely relevant. Participants engaged in active discussion on a range of issues, including cyber diplomacy, the influence of tech platforms, and the growing role of non-state actors in shaping global policy.
According to feedback gathered at the event, there is strong interest in continued engagement. ARIN has confirmed that the next ARIN Diplomatic Forum will take place in November 2025 in Washington, D.C., with the addition of a virtual component to expand regional participation.
The Diplomatic Forum represents part of ARIN’s broader commitment to strengthening awareness, capacity, and collaboration with government officials around digital governance. As technological change accelerates, the organization remains focused on supporting government stakeholders across the region in building resilient, inclusive digital futures.
For information on future ARIN events for the Caribbean community, stay tuned to the ARIN Event Calendar and the ARIN Caribbean webpage.
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