The Chief of Defence signs a cooperation agreement on cyber defence with NATO

• This took place during the visit to Spain by the Deputy Secretary General of the Alliance’s Cyber and Digital Transformation Division

The Chief of Defence, Admiral General Teodoro E. López Calderón, acting on behalf of the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in cyber defence with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. This took place during the visit of the Deputy Secretary General of the Alliance’s Cyber and Digital Transformation Division.

Following the signing, Jean Charles Ellermann-Kingombe held a working meeting at the Defence Staff Headquarters with personnel from the General Staff Joint Command (EMACON in Spanish). He then travelled to the Joint Cyber Command, where he was received by its Commander, Vice-Admiral Javier Roca Rivero, who explained the work carried out by the Command and highlighted the importance of ensuring the protection of cyberspace. He emphasised the importance of the Joint Cyber Space Command (MCCE in Spanish) in digital protection and cybersecurity, as well as how military and civilian capabilities are integrated in cyberspace.

He was briefed on some of the Joint Cyber Space Command’s main areas of work: the NCCR (NATO Classified Cyber Range), the 5G laboratory, the Artificial Intelligence Reference Centre and the Military School of Cyber Operations (EMCO in Spanish).

Furthermore, the commander of the MCCE emphasised that, beyond technology, what really matters when it comes to defending our way of life and our democratic society are people and their values. Finally, he outlined the Cyber Space Command’s growth prospects in terms of infrastructure and technological capabilities, as well as human capital.

Following a question-and-answer session in which the Assistant Secretary General expressed an interest in learning first-hand about the operation of some of the technological resources that characterise the Command, such as Cyber Combat System (SCOMCE in Spanish) and their interoperability with other NATO countries, the guest book was signed.

Before concluding the visit, the Assistant Secretary General inspected preparations for the Locked Shields exercise, coordinated with the NATO CCDCOE, which will take place during the week of 20–24 April.