National security practitioners and experts from across the world participated in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO 2025), with the theme of “Emerging Technology Risks and National Security”. The programme was held from 6 to 11 April 2025, and was organised by the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS) at RSIS.
APPSNO 2025 focussed on the potential of new and rapidly evolving emerging technologies that have the ability to significantly reshape societies, economies, and governance structures; as well as the ability of hostile actors to leverage and exploit such technologies, posing serious risks to democracy, economic stability, and social cohesion. APPSNO 2025 served as a platform for participants to deepen their understanding of these risks and adopt proactive strategies to both harness the benefits of such technologies and mitigate the potential harms they may bring.
International and domestic speakers were invited to shed light on the theme with their insights and experiences. More than 69 national security practitioners, experts, and scholars from 21 countries, including Singapore, the Asia Pacific, United States and Europe; gathered to discuss challenges such as i) the impact and mitigation of artificial intelligence and national security, ii) the challenges brought by quantum technologies, iii) emerging technologies and economic security, iv) the interplay between biotechnology, biohazards and national security, and v) supply chain resiliency and national security.
Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development, opened the programme, highlighting the national security risks posed by disinformation, cyberthreats, and biological weapons, calling on all stakeholders to work together to harness the power of technology responsibly.
Among a line-up of prominent speakers, the programme featured an opening keynote speech by Mr Jaan Tallinn, founding engineer of Skype & Kazaa, titled: “If Countries Remain At Odds, The Machines Will Gain The Upper Hand”. Mr Tallinn discussed the role of artificial general intelligence (AGI), its impact, and its potential to completely transform science, technology, economics, and geopolitics.
Following Mr Tallinn’s speech, Dr Dimitri Kusnezov, Vice-President, Science and Technology, Nuclear Threat Institute, and former US Under Secretary for Science and Technology; engaged the audience in a high-level fireside chat titled: “What keeps me up at night? AI and Emerging Technologies at the national-security/homeland-security nexus”. Dr Kusnezov discussed how the rapid development of emerging technologies is reshaping traditional concepts of national security, and highlighted how such changes will require rethinking conventional security approaches.
In addition to engaging with the speaker-led discussions, participants also engaged in scenario-based tabletop exercises, led and designed by CENS in collaboration with Dr Miguel Gomez, Senior Research Fellow with the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in the National University of Singapore. On the final day of the programme, each group of participants was invited to give a presentation on their tabletop exercise discussions, along with their proposed policy recommendations.
The programme concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony and closing dinner hosted by Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, Dean of RSIS. Participants agreed that the event offered a valuable environment for connecting with national security counterparts and sparking insightful discussions.
Catch the highlights of APPSNO 2025 here:
