Germany and Israel are planning to set up a joint cyber research centre to lay the foundation for deeper cooperation in the area of digital security and intelligence. There is a growing conviction in Berlin that in an era of growing threats from Russia and China, simply strengthening the armed forces is not enough – a parallel modernisation of civil defence and cyber capabilities is necessary.
A proposal for the creation of a so-called ‘Cyberdome ‘ – a digital defence shield – was announced during a visit to Israel by German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. The project envisages five key measures, including the development of threat detection technology, cooperation between intelligence agencies, the training of specialists and the transfer of Israeli know-how to German institutions. Germany clearly wants to accelerate the digitalisation of public security, building on the experience of a partner whose defence solutions – such as the famous ‘Iron Dome’ – have proven themselves under real threat.
This move is another sign of a change in Berlin’s geopolitical course. After years of strategic caution, Germany is starting to take more decisive steps to increase its contribution to Europe’s security – including in the digital area. Defence spending is set to exceed 2% of GDP in 2025, and cyber security is increasingly appearing as an investment priority on the government’s agenda.
For Israel, in turn, this means strengthening its position as a defence technology exporter and further institutionalising partnerships with European Union countries. Israeli companies – such as Elbit, Rafael and NSO – are already working intensively with European services in the fields of early warning systems, cyber intelligence or critical infrastructure protection.
