NATO Plans to Expand Use of Cyberattacks in “Offensive Defense”

The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark are developing new principles for conducting cyber warfare. NATO member countries are planning to tighten countermeasures against state-sponsored hackers. According to Reuters, these countermeasures will include cyberattacks aimed at disabling enemy networks.

The participating countries are working on guidelines for cyber warfare that will direct their military forces. These principles outline a much broader use of cyberattacks and could be adopted as early as the beginning of 2019.

“There is a possibility that NATO will recognize offensive computer capabilities on par with aircraft and ships,” said U.S. Navy Commander Michael Widmann, speaking at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn.

Some NATO representatives believe that cyberattacks on enemy power grids could be much more effective than airstrikes. “I have a certain mission to accomplish, and I have air assets and computer assets. Which is better suited to achieve the necessary goal?” Widmann was quoted as saying by Reuters.