Germany has responded to the increasing threat of cyber attacks by announcing the creation of a specialized cyber unit within its armed forces. The decision was made public by Boris Pistorius, the Defense Minister of Germany.
The new cyberspace and information department, known as the Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIR), will be established as the fourth independent branch of the German army, alongside the Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force. All branches will be under the authority of the Unified Coordinating Center of the Bundeswehr operational command. This restructuring initiative is part of a project called “Bundeswehr structure.”
The primary role of the CIR unit will be to combat hybrid threats, including misinformation and influence operations, as well as carrying out cyber operations. Pistorius highlighted that the establishment of CIR is essential to adapt the German armed forces to a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
Furthermore, Pistorius emphasized the importance of increasing Germany’s defense budget by $7.06 billion by 2025 in order to meet the target of spending 2% of GDP on defense.