NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underscored the Alliance’s collective commitment to cyber defence in a video address to the 2025 NATO Cyber Defence Conference, stating that NATO and its members must continue strengthening their resilience in the digital domain, according to the Alliance.
Speaking to senior officials and industry representatives gathered in Tirana, Albania, Rutte warned of persistent threats from both state and non-state actors.
“Every day, state and non-state actors are working in cyberspace against us, trying to disrupt our defences, degrade our critical infrastructure, spy on our societies, and interfere with government services,” he said.
Rutte highlighted NATO’s ongoing efforts to operationalise cyberspace as a recognised domain of military activity. This includes the creation of the NATO Integrated Cyber Defence Centre, which brings together civil and military specialists, as well as industry partners, to provide continuous monitoring and coordination aimed at improving collective situational awareness and resilience against cyber threats.
NATO Allies are also stepping up their investment in cyber defence, Rutte noted, adding that the Alliance provides a unique framework for joint responses to malicious cyber activity. “No one stands alone in NATO,” he said. “We all stand together in this digital age against those who would do us harm.”
The two-day conference, held on 9–10 October, focuses on enhancing proactive cyber defence, expanding cooperation between public and private sectors, and reinforcing NATO’s role as a platform for imposing costs on malicious cyber actors.
