Laar Vows to Stand Firm on Electronic Freedom
With the national focus on foiling attacks, Defense Minister Mart Laar has also stressed the need to keep the internet free.
Speaking at a conference in the US devoted to the country's vaunted cyber defense program, Laar focused on why the internet is one of the most important standard-bearers of freedom.
"Often the aim of authoritarian states is to force us to take steps to restrict internet freedom," said Laar. "We will not allow that to happen."
He said the Defense League's cyber defense unit - an example of public private partnership - was one of four pillars of keeping cyberspace protected, the others being state-civic, interagency and international cooperation.
The conference was organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Ministry of Defense.
Laar, who will return to Estonia on November 10, has a meeting scheduled with USA Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy to discuss NATO's future, cyber defense and airspace policing in the Baltics.
Laar will also visit the Supreme Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia.
Kristopher Rikken