Security motivations for cyber cooperation among Mediterranean countries amid the rise of cyber wars and cybercrime (2020–2025)

Abstract

This study examines the security motivations for cyber cooperation among Mediterranean countries in the context of rapid digital transformation and escalating cyber threats. It highlights how cyberspace has become an integral part of critical infrastructure, making it vulnerable to attacks that threaten national security and stability. The study also discusses the emergence of cyber warfare as a new form of conflict, where information plays a central role in political, economic, and military influence. It emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared threats, despite challenges such as disparities in technical and institutional capacities and the lack of an effective coordination framework.