London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Cyber attack on NHS would trigger full Nato response, says alliance's general secretary

Cyber attack on NHS would trigger full Nato response, says alliance's general secretary

A cyber strike similar to the computer hack that crippled NHS hospitals in 2017 could trigger a revenge attack from all Nato allies, its general secretary has warned.

Jens Stoltenberg cited the WannaCry ransomware attack as an example of a “serious cyber attack” that would be viewed by Nato as requiring a response from all members of the alliance.

The attack in May 2017, which exploited a weakness in some Microsoft Windows operating systems, forced the NHS to cancel non-emergency operations.

It is estimated to have affected 70,000 devices including computers and MRI scanners.

The attack, in which the perpetrators demanded payments to fix infected computers, spread to dozens of countries and cost hundreds of millions of pounds to put right.

The US and UK have publicly accused North Korea of being behind the attack. But other state actors including Russia, China and Iran have been blamed for other cyber attacks in the West.

Mr Stoltenberg said that a similar attack could in the future trigger Article 5 of the Nato founding treaty, which commits  member nations to treating an attack on one member as an attack against all.

The collective defence commitment has been invoked only once in Nato history - by the US after the al-Qaida terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001.

In an article for Prospect magazine, Mr Stoltenberg  wrote: “We have designated cyberspace a domain in which Nato will operate and defend itself as effectively as it does in the air, on land, and at sea.

“This means we will deter and defend against any aggression towards allies, whether it takes place in the physical world or the virtual one.”

Mr Stoltenberg added: “The 2017 WannaCry virus crippled computers in hospitals across the country, cancelling thousands of scheduled operations and costing the National Health Service millions of pounds.

“Even Nato is not immune to cyberattacks and we register suspicious activity against our systems every day.”

The Nato chief said the alliance is establishing a new Cyberspace Operations Centre in Belgium, and could also now “also draw from allies’ national cyber capabilities for NATO missions and operations”.

He also praised action by the Netherlands, with the help of British intelligence agencies, in foiling an attack by Russia on the Organisation for the Prohibition for Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.

At the time, the OPCW was investigating the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in a chemical weapons attack using a military-grade nerve agent.

Mr Stoltenberg said collaboration was vital, explaining that “no single country alone can secure cyberspace”, adding: “But by cooperating closely, sharing expertise, we will not only survive, but thrive in the new digital age.”

He went on: “Cyberspace is the new battleground and making Nato cyber ready, well-resourced, well-trained, and well-equipped-is a top priority as we look towards the Nato summit in London in December and beyond.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×