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Russia's deputy PM: what NATO refers to as defense in reality is offensive

According to Dmitry Rogozion, talking of cyber defense, NATO experts mean using information networks for paralysing the command strength and defense system of a country
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin EPA/ DUMITRU DORU
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin
© EPA/ DUMITRU DORU

MOSCOW, 10 March. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday he had witnessed the evolution of the concept of cyber defense while being Russia's ambassador to NATO: initially, NATO representatives spoke of cyber security, and starting from 2010 the term was transformed into cyber defense.

We need to understand the language of our colleagues in the North Atlantic Alliance: what they call defense means an offensive, and what they call and offensive is defense
Dmitry Rogozin
Deputy Prime Minister

"We need to understand the language of our colleagues in the North Atlantic Alliance: what they call defense means an offensive, and what they call and offensive is defense," Rogozin said, noting that in this case, talking of cyber defense, NATO experts mean using information networks for paralysing the command strength and defense system of a country, and after this information attack to proceed to direct military action.

Rogozin stressed that cyber security issues deserve serious consideration.

Speaking at the federal scientific and practical conference on cyber security at Russia’s critical infrastructure facilities, he said that such a threat may come not only from a state that is superior or equal in strength, but also from militarily weaker terrorist organizations.

"Taking the current system of threats to our country - they may come from three sources. First - from countries that are technically stronger and coalitions of such countries. The second kind of threats may come from an enemy equal in power, and the third threat - from a militarily weaker enemy," said the deputy prime minister.

As the latter type of confrontation Rogozin cited the example of the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia, when despite the obvious force superiority Russia still suffered casualties.

At the same time, he said, a non-state entity can also be a source of aggression. "It may be a terrorist organization, and now, unfortunately, we see that many intellectuals are activists of terrorist organizations and they are likely to use their knowledge against us, against our country," said the deputy prime minister.

In view of all these dangers, the deputy prime minister said that the country’s new state armaments program is aimed at creating new weapons with state-of-the-art equipment and software.