NATO Allies Plan to Combat Cyber Threats

Allies have expressed concern that cyber threats to the security of the Alliance are complex, destructive, coercive, and becoming ever more frequent.

Senior cyber coordinators from all NATO Allies met in Brussels on 18 May 2022 for the first time. They discussed the new strategic environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its implications for the cyber threat landscape. They also reviewed progress in the area of cyber defence, including efforts to increase resilience to cyber threats.

“Today’s North Atlantic Council meeting of senior cyber coordinators was an important step along the path to NATO’s Summit in Madrid,” NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said. “There is an urgent need to step up our approach to cyber defence, and this collective effort also means engaging with our partners, including in the private sector.”

Allies have expressed concern that cyber threats to the security of the Alliance are complex, destructive, coercive, and becoming ever more frequent. NATO is a strong platform to share information, to exchange national approaches and responses, as well as to consider possible collective responses. Allies are also providing practical support to partners, including Ukraine.

At the Madrid Summit next month (June 2022), Allies will take further decisions to bolster the Alliance’s deterrence and defence. Cyber defence plays a key role and this is expected to be reflected in NATO’s next Strategic Concept.