The Electronic Warfare Training Center (CIGE, in Portuguese) of the Brazilian Army (EB, in Portuguese) held the fifth International Cyber Defense Workshop for officers of partner nations in Brasília, November 29–December 10, 2021. The activity, promoted by EB’s Cyber Defense Command, was attended by service members from nine countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Peru.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Valdecir Gregory, CIGE commandant, cyber defense occurs in a scenario that goes beyond borders; hence the need for participants to exchange experiences. “We need to work together on our cyber defense capabilities to combat these increasingly present threats,” Lt. Col. Gregory said during the event.
German Army Second Lieutenant Kai Martin Schimkus also emphasized mutual cooperation. “It’s very important to exchange information with other nations because electronic [warfare] is very dangerous and does not recognize borders,” the German officer said.
The “Capture the Flag” exercise was carried out at the end of the activity, in which trainees were challenged to apply lessons learned throughout the event. “On that occasion, a Peruvian Army lieutenant colonel stood out,” the EB indicated.
Building capabilities
With the fifth International Cyber Defense Workshop, Brazil and its partner nations ended a year marked by several concrete actions to strengthen their cyber capabilities. One of them was the Hemispheric Cyber Defense Conference, held on November 19, 2021, by the Inter-American Defense Board, an organization made up of military and civilian personnel from 28 countries, which offers advice to the Organization of American States.
“We have held cyber defense training events, exchanges, and exercises with our neighboring and sister countries Argentina and Brazil, with whom we have a long tradition of cooperation,” said at the conference Colonel Pablo Camps, commander of the Uruguayan Army Cyber Defense Unit. “We conduct general and specific training, expert exchanges, and participate in conferences with the United States,” Col. Camps added.
Strategic Plan
Cyberthreat preparedness has a central role in the EB’s Strategic Plan (2020-2023). To accomplish this goal, in November 2020, Brazil created the Military Cyber Defense System, with the Cyber Defense Command as its central body, and comprising officers and noncommissioned officers from the three Armed Forces.
In February 2019, Brazil inaugurated the National Cyber Defense School in Brasília, to promote training and improve the workforce in this sector.