US Army Europe and Africa advances AI cyber defence dialogue
More than 800 experts discussed AI cyber defence, information sharing and the future of secure military operations.
US Army Europe and Africa has highlighted the growing role of AI in military cybersecurity, bringing together more than 800 cyber specialists, military leaders and industry experts to discuss how allied forces can strengthen collective cyber defence across Europe and Africa.
Representatives from 23 nations attended the three-day summit from 21 to 23 July, where discussions focused on AI-enabled cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, national security and the future of military cyber operations. Participants also examined how existing technologies could improve operational readiness against rapidly evolving digital threats.
Speakers agreed that AI is already strengthening defensive cyber operations but emphasised that it cannot replace trained personnel, trusted partnerships or information sharing. Retired US Army Major General Garrett Yee said AI enhances defensive capabilities, while participants stressed that vulnerabilities in one connected system can quickly affect wider allied networks, making multinational cooperation essential.
US Army Europe and Africa cybersecurity lead Holvin Galindo argued that cybersecurity specialists should be involved in mission planning from the outset rather than securing systems after deployment. Other speakers similarly called on senior commanders to treat cybersecurity as a core operational requirement rather than responding only after major incidents occur.
Now in its 26th year, the summit remains a key forum for strengthening cyber cooperation among allied forces and supporting the modernisation of military digital defences across Europe and Africa.
Why does it matter?
The discussions reflect a broader shift in military cybersecurity from protecting individual systems to securing interconnected digital ecosystems shared by allied forces. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into defence operations, resilience increasingly depends on combining technological capabilities with common standards, trusted partnerships and coordinated planning.
The summit also reinforces the growing recognition that cybersecurity must be embedded throughout military planning rather than treated as a separate technical function. Integrating cyber expertise from the earliest stages of operational design is becoming an essential element of modern defence preparedness.
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