Sweden will join the Tallinn-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) to help contribute to regional development of cyber security.

The nation will join as a Contributing Participant which will aid cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.

Director of the CCDCOE, Colonel Artur Suzik, said that Sweden already takes part in the world's largest cyber defense exercise, Locked Shields, and highlighted the importance of cyber security cooperation.

''It is a global issue that does not stop at NATO borders,'' he said.

State Secretary Jan Salestrand of Swedish Ministry of Defense said: ''We recognize the successful work of the Cyber Defense Center, particularly its role as a training facility as well as its important contributions to the ongoing discussion on international and legal issues.''

Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense Mikk Marran said: ''It is essential to involve as many nations with advanced cyber defense expertise as possible in the work of the CCDCOE. Coping with the cyber world that is not hindered by physical borders requires international cooperation and the Center embodies that. It already is one of the largest NATO Centers of Excellence in terms of number of nations involved.''

The Center’s mission is to enhance capability, cooperation and information-sharing between NATO, allies and partners in cyber defense and membership is open to all allies.

Currently, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States have signed on as sponsoring nations.