Disarmament and International Security Committee
President’s Letter
Topic 1: Addressing the Proliferation of Military-Grade Software on the Global Black Market.
The spread of military-grade software on the global black market brings a severe threat to international security and digital stability. Military-grade software is an advanced program developed for use in defense purposes. However, cyber espionage, insider leaks, weak export controls, and increasing global demand from both state and non-state actors have led to these powerful tools being increasingly sold or traded on the black market. Major producers such as the United States, Russia, China, and several EU states create the tools, while non-state actors like cybercrime networks, terrorist groups, and rogue states exploit them. Vulnerable countries across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia face heightened risks when these tools reach the black market. This has allowed for malicious groups, hackers, and rogue nations to acquire technologies that can disrupt critical infrastructure, steal classified information, or conduct cyberattacks.
The consequences of this proliferation are multidimensional, from heightened risks of cyberterrorism, international tensions, and loss of control over digital weapons. The matter is highly critical as it undermines global stability and erodes trust among nations, with serious implications for an arms race in cyberspace. While frameworks like the Wassenaar Arrangement have attempted to regulate the export of dual-use technologies, the enforcement has been inconsistent, and coordination among countries remains weak.
Congratulations on entering this stage of your MUN journey. I’m excited to see the diverse perspectives and skills you will bring to the conference, and I look forward to witnessing how your preparation and enthusiasm shape the debates ahead. NOSMUN marks the beginning of an important experience, one where you will grow, challenge yourself, and continue developing the skills that set strong delegates apart.
We have all been in your shoes as delegates, anxious, unsure, and at times even scared. These emotions are not a weakness; they are proof that you care about your performance and your growth. Allow them to push you forward rather than hold you back. Feeling nervous or uncertain going into the conference is completely normal. Rest assured, however, that the DISEC chairing panel will be present to ensure a fair and fruitful debate, while guiding you through every step of the committee.
With that being said, each delegate is expected to arrive well-prepared, with thorough research, a clear understanding of their country’s policy, and the readiness to contribute meaningfully to debates. Should you have any questions or require clarification, do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the chairing panel, before, during, or after the conference.
See you soon,
Mahmoud Al-Baw
President of DISEC and Head of Training
Topic 2: Addressing the Impact of Foreign Military Presence (FMP) on National Sovereignty and Regional Stability.
A foreign military base is "an extraterritorial unit with an external actor's sovereign or semi-sovereign rights." "Foreign military bases" is used interchangeably or in connection with associated terms such as "foreign security bases," "overseas security bases, "foreign security arrangements, "foreign security/military posts, "foreign military alliances," or "Foreign security installations."
Over the past century, foreign interventions have become increasingly common in certain cultural contexts, such as in Africa, largely due to the failure of respective states to address these concerns. This is primarily attributed to a lack of state capacity and the complicity of regimes, especially those that resort to violence to maintain power. Notably, many African countries face state security and human security challenges. These complexities exacerbate the economic and political dilemmas in Africa that attract external interest and action, generally to support transitions to stability, democracy, and economic development on the continent.
Some accounts suggest that the proliferation of foreign military activities forms part of the globalization of the understanding and practice of security and related matters of political and economic importance.
Study Guide
DISEC Guide 2026
Delegate’s Guide