NATO's efforts to adapt to changing threats
'We have to be able to react very fast when we see that we're under attack,' alliance head says
NATO's secretary general says he is "confident" Canada will continue to play a large role internationally, especially when it comes to responding to cyber attacks and terrorism.
Canada's expertise, provided to NATO's relatively new intelligence division, has been helpful in adapting the alliance to a shifting digital landscape, Jens Stoltenberg told CBC Radio's The House.
However, NATO nations still need to do more to stay ahead of cyber threats and terrorism, he added.
"It means that we need higher readiness," he said. "We have to be able to react very fast when we see that we're under attack."
Nations need to guard against online attacks but real-world terrorism by extremist groups like ISIS remains a potent threat, Stoltenberg said.
In March, NATO's chief military policy adviser sounded out Canada on the kind of commitment it might make to the alliance's expanded training mission in Iraq.
The Canadian military has a handful of combat engineers in the war-ravaged country under the NATO banner, training Iraqi soldiers in the finer points of bomb disposal. Canada also has troops contributing to the U.S.-led coalition.
But Stoltenberg said Canada could afford to expand those efforts.
"I hope that Canada can play an important role in providing trainers and expertise," he said.
"I'm confident that Canada will continue to do more in the alliance."