With complicated cyber attacks it is possible to bring a country's economy and crucial infrastructure to its knees at least temporarily, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said holding a lecture in the U.S. National Defense University.
Estonian president speaks at U.S. National Defense University
30th August 2013, 14:37
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«The traditional notion that to disable a country it is enough to conquer its territory or to destroy its military is not always correct,» Ilves said on Thursday holding a lecture at the U.S. National Defense University in Washington, spokespeople for the president told BNS. «Today it is possible for an enemy to look past the military -- with complicated cyber attacks it is possible to bring a country's economy and crucial infrastructure to its knees at least temporarily.»
Ilves, who spoke in front of 600 students most of whom were higher servicemen, focused on 21st century security and especially cyber security.
«We have to put military cyber defense into context -- militaries play a role in cyber security but it is not necessarily crucial,» the president said considering essential the private sector's active involvement in guaranteeing cyber security.
Speaking of the actual state of transatlantic relations Ilves expressed his concern about Europe's defense costs, that are at times small, and the insufficient security will, but also about isolationism moods spreading in the United States. «Fortunately it has not yet become a mainstream attitude but a certain introversion and fatigue can be noticed among both the left- and right-wing political forces,» he said.
According to Ilves Europe and the rest of the free world need a strong contribution and dedication of the United States in standing for our common values because no one else is ready or able to take on that role themselves in today's world.
Ilves is taking part in a Baltic-U.S. summit on Friday when the U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Baltic leaders Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Andris Berzins and Dalia Grybauskaite. The three Baltic heads of state will also meet with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.