Leuven, Belgium — The 1st REMIT Conference — Christian-Marc Lifländer, the Head of NATO Cyber & Hybrid Policy Section, reiterated the importance of prioritizing long-term security over short-term economic interests during an inaugural event on Thursday.
The statement was made at the REMIT conference, which is part of the Reignite Multilateralism via Technology project. This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Program and is hosted at the University of Leuven, serving as the first venue for international discussions on the topic.
As a keynote speaker representing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which comprises 32 member states including the United States and Canada, along with 30 European countries, Lifländer addressed the audience, focusing on strategic competition under the subtitle “Adjusting to an Era of Unpeace.” Throughout his speech, he frequently emphasized words such as “value,” “resilience,” “openness,” and “connectedness,” along with highlighting the importance of “cooperation” and safeguarding “critical infrastructure.”
The message delivered by NATO’s Cyber Head was multifaceted, encompassing three key dimensions: global strategic competition, the evolving nature of cyberspace, and the emergence of disruptive technologies.
Lifländer emphasized, “It’s crucial to remember that authoritarian actors are challenging not just our interests, but also our values and democratic way of life. Much of this challenge resides within a value space. From my observations, strategic competitors continually test our resilience and aim to exploit the very openness, interconnectedness, and digitalization of our nations.” He provided an example of this through mentioning recent instances of disinformation campaigns orchestrated by malicious actors in cyberspace.
Furthermore, Lifländer referenced the case of Ukraine, stating, “When I look at Ukraine, the conflict didn’t truly begin in 2022. Since 2014, the invasion has been shaping the battleground, aiming to disrupt Ukraine’s communications and hinder the government’s ability to communicate with its citizens. We’ve also witnessed numerous instances of data-wiping malware targeting Ukrainian intelligence, government, as well as commercial and energy sectors. The objective is to paralyze the nation.” He emphasized that while Ukraine was the primary target of these attacks, the repercussions extended beyond its borders, impacting thousands of people across Europe.
The NATO Cyber Head asserted, “The story of Ukraine teaches us that the defense is not entirely impossible.” Lifländer emphasized that this offers positive insights favoring defenders, indicating that “In many ways, we can determine our level of vulnerability to attacks.” He stressed, “There is a role for us to play here. There is a significant amount that all of us—countries and organizations—can learn from what occurred in terms of preventing incidents and mitigating the impact of adverse events.”
Lithuania, a nation that has been the primary target of hybrid threats from Russia and China since gaining independence in 1990, was highlighted by Lifländer as he shed light on NATO’s efforts to protect cyberspace. Lifländer noted, “Lithuania has faced disinformation propaganda and political blackmail tactics.” He further emphasized, “What is particularly noteworthy is the aftermath of Lithuania’s significant decision to withdraw from China’s 17+1 group.” Following this decision, Lithuania experienced a comprehensive range of Chinese hybrid tactics, including “economic blackmail, malicious political cyber activities, and disinformation campaigns” orchestrated by China.
In May 2021, Lithuania withdrew from China’s 17+1 group “for practical purposes.” In response to Lithuania’s decision, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initiated hybrid influence operations, which included disinformation campaigns carried out through fake accounts, bots, and trolls. These methods were described as “classic examples of China’s disinformation strategy” in a policy report titled “Lithuania’s Experience in Combating Hybrid Threats,” published by GLOBSEC, a global think-tank organization focused on security.
The Head of NATO Cyber underscored the crucial role of the private sector in both innovation and defense. “Innovation largely originates from the private sector, significantly increasing national governments’ reliance on private industry,” Lifländer emphasized. He noted that artificial intelligence and quantum technologies have profound implications for “all aspects related to cybersecurity,” potentially serving as “game changers.” Lifländer highlighted the case of Ukraine, where private actors played a critical role in defending against attacks, often being the first responders.
Furthermore, the NATO Cyber Head discussed ongoing initiatives launched by NATO, including the Defense Innovation Accelerator and the NATO Innovation Fund. Lifländer mentioned that at the upcoming Washington Summit in July, officials will deliberate on ways to enhance the defenses of national infrastructures and networks. “Our aim is to enhance overall tools, approaches, bolster business strengths, and further resilience,” Lifländer emphasized.
“We require a more systemic and institutionalized cooperation and collaboration between public and private sector actors,” Lifländer stressed. “However, this collective effort must extend beyond public-private partnerships and should encompass international spheres. By standing together, I am confident that we can surpass our strategic competitors,” he added.
In conclusion, the Head of NATO Cyber issued a warning to Russia, asserting that “President Putin’s war on Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe.” Lifländer noted that allies of NATO, including the EU, Switzerland, and South Korea, have joined in imposing sanctions against Russia, resulting in “hundreds of international companies having pulled out of their operations over Russia.” He emphasized, “We must not sacrifice long-term security needs for short-term economic interests.”
