Cyber security and defence strategy of EU's small states: the cases of Greece and Estonia.

Abstract

It is common knowledge that societies are moving forward to their digitalization notably in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak, a process that has induced further shifts in the global security environment. The sophisticated challenges in cyberspace require a modern and cutting-edge approach that will achieve the protection of grids and data. The ongoing war in Ukraine, in which offensive cyber operations have also been conducted orchestrated by Russia, verifies that hybrid weapons have entered the conventional battlefields, proving that the Internet has evolved into a battlefield for geopolitical conflicts. In this anarchic and antagonistic nature of the international system, small states strive to cope with the vulnerabilities that derive from their petit size, i.e. limited resources, influence, power and more, in order to endure and advance their country’s interests. In this line, they often join cooperation entities and coalitions so to promote their demands and savor the benefit of these structures. European Union is an institution that provides its member-states with a variety of legal framework and mechanisms to fight security menaces, boost the European economy, and strengthen its credibility. As cyberspace has been recognized as the fifth domain of action, it is vital for the Union to safeguard and simplify its citizens’ digital aspects of life based on fundamental human rights. In this thesis, two European small states will be examined with a view to demonstrate the way they perceive cybersecurity and the gravity it has at the national level in proportion to their strategic environment and capabilities. In particular, Greece and Estonia have been selected because of their prominent security value as both of them invest highly in this field in general (they devote 2% of GDP to defence). The main purpose is to result in the conclusion that despite their rather palpable “weak points”, small powers are indeed able to antagonize the great powers and implement smart strategies that will increase their influence and place them in the centre of the game.