Sweden is set to join the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence as a Contributing Participant. This cooperation format at the knowledge hub is open for non-NATO nations.
“Sweden joining the Centre as a Contributing Participant will enhance cyber security cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. Swedish technical experts have already contributed remarkably to the world’s largest live-fire international cyber defence exercise Locked Shields that the Centre organizes,” noted Colonel Artur Suzik, Director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. He highlighted the importance of such cooperation as cyber security is a global issue that does not stop at NATO borders.
“We recognise the successful work of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, particularly its role as a training facility as well as its important contributions to the ongoing discussion on international and legal issues,” said State Secretary Jan Salestrand of Swedish Ministry of Defence. “Through closer cooperation with the Centre, Sweden wishes to contribute to the regional development of cyber defence and international cyber security.” Salestrand emphasised that the recently adopted Swedish Defence Bill states that Sweden should strengthen its cyber defence capabilities and that international cooperation is vital to this end.
It is essential to involve as many nations with advanced cyber defence expertise as possible in the work of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, noted Mikk Marran, the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence. “Coping with the cyber world that is not hindered by physical borders requires international cooperation and the Centre embodies that. It already is one of the largest NATO Centres of Excellence in terms of number of nations involved,” Marran said. He added that Sweden adds value to the Centre’s synthesis of cyber security knowledge.
The Tallinn-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence is a NATO-accredited knowledge hub focused on interdisciplinary applied research and development as well as consultations, trainings and exercises in the field of cyber security. The Centre’s mission is to enhance capability, cooperation and information-sharing between NATO, Allies and Partners in cyber defence. The Centre is staffed and financed by sponsoring nations and contributing participants.
Membership of the Centre is open to all Allies. Currently, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States have signed on as Sponsoring Nations. Austria has joined the Centre as a Contributing Participant, the status for non-NATO members of the NATO CCDCOE.