Minister of Defence Jüri Luik was visited today by Major General Olivier Bonnet de Paillerets, Commander of the French Cyber Defence Command (COMCYBER), with the two discussing an increase in cyber cooperation between the two countries and topics for the forthcoming NATO Summit.
According to Minister of Defence Luik, France is a very important partner for Estonia when it comes to cyber-defence related cooperation. ‘In recent years, a close relationship has developed between Estonia and France in the field of cyber-defence,' said Luik.
The Minister of Defence added that since cyber-warfare has become commonplace today, Estonia wishes to maintain strong cooperation and develop further. ‘Especially now that we are establishing our own Cyber Command,' said Luik.
According to Luik, the skills and hardiness of countries is now regularly being put to the test in cyberspace. ‘In order to confront threats, like-minded countries, such as Estonia and France – which consider the role of cyber-defence in national defence to be very important – must work together,’ he added.
At the same time, Luik and Paillerets discussed French participation in NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, in Tallinn, in which France is an active member. The importance of fully integrating cyber-defence into the planning activity of the Allies was also emphasised.
Luik thanked General Paillerets for the decision by France to return to the composition of the NATO battlegroup stationed in Estonia.
Estonia is also planning on contributing 50 servicemen to the French-led Operation Barkhane, in Mali.
