A NATO Counterintelligence Centre of Excellence has been opened in Kraków, southern Poland.

The centre is a Polish-Slovak initiative supported by Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said that the centre was “fundamentally important, especially in the face of threats from Russia”.

In a statement issued when a deal to set up the centre was signed, NATO said it "aims to expand the capabilities of the Alliance and its member nations to enhance NATO counter-intelligence and improve interoperability”.

The new centre in Kraków is expected to run specialist courses and training for agents, Polish Radio's IAR news agency reported.

(vb/pk)

Source: IAR