Poland joins regional cyber defense center in Lithuania – ministry

VILNIUS - Poland will become a fifth country to join the Regional Cyber Defense Center (RCDC), which operates as a branch of the National Cyber Security Center, Lithuania's Ministry of National Defense said on Monday.

"Operating for the past 18 months, the Regional Cyber Defense Center continues to expand and grow. Poland's participation will only strengthen it further and allow for a better assessment of the cyber security situation in our region," Vice Minister of National Defense Margiris Abukevicius said in a statement.

The decision on Poland's accession was taken on Monday at a meeting of the RCDC's in Kaunas, attended by representatives of Lithuania, the United States, Ukraine and Georgia. Representatives of Poland attended the meeting as observers.

Poland's accession and the necessary documents is expected to be completed later this year, and the first Polish representatives will start working in Kaunas in the near future.

The RCDC was launched in July, 2021 and is the key platform for practical cooperation with the US in the area of cyber defense, the statement reads. The center analyses regional cyber threats, exchanges relevant information with partners, and holds exercises, training and analytical studies in the area of cyber security.