Rutte: NATO Must Grow Stronger in Digital World to Combat Daily Cyber Threats

NATO Allies are significantly stepping up their investment in cyber defence. These investments are focused on improving the Allies’ ability to detect, prevent, and respond effectively to malicious cyber activities.

RMN News NATO Desk
October 11, 2025

Tirana, Albania – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on Allies to continue strengthening their position in the digital world, warning of daily malicious activity from state and non-state actors seeking to harm Alliance interests. Rutte delivered his message in a video address to NATO’s annual Cyber Defence Conference on Thursday (9 October).

The Secretary General detailed the persistent threat, noting that actors in cyberspace are working to disrupt defenses, degrade critical infrastructure, spy on societies, and interfere with government services.

In response to these rapidly evolving and growing threats, NATO and its Allies are taking further measures to enhance collective resilience. A key step involves operationalizing cyberspace as a domain of operations.

New Cyber Defence Centre Established

Central to these efforts is the establishment of the NATO Integrated Cyber Defence Centre. This Centre is designed to improve situational awareness by bringing together civil and military cyber defenders, including industry experts, on a 24/7 basis.

Beyond operational changes, NATO Allies are significantly stepping up their investment in cyber defence. These investments are focused on improving the Allies’ ability to detect, prevent, and respond effectively to malicious cyber activities.

Rutte emphasized that NATO provides a unique network through which member nations can implement necessary responses to cyber threats. He underscored the principle of collective defense in the digital sphere, stating, “No one stands alone in NATO”. He added that the Allies “all stand together in this digital age against those who would do us harm”.

The conference, which took place in Tirana, Albania, on 9-10 October, gathered Allied senior political and military officials alongside industry representatives. Core topics under discussion at the two-day event included fostering more decisive and pro-active cyber defence, strengthening NATO’s role as a platform to impose costs on malicious cyber actors, and achieving closer public and private sector cooperation.