Key Takeaways
- Spain will invest over $3.3 billion in cybersecurity as part of its defense plan.
- The investment will focus on developing artificial intelligence and quantum computing-based cybersecurity systems.
- Spain’s total investment in security and defense next year will amount to 33.1 billion euros.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans to modernize the country’s security and defense sector. This move aims to improve the kingdom’s industrial and technological capabilities.
“We are talking about an industrial and technological plan for security and defense … What is planned to be done? It [the plan] provides for the allocation of 3 billion euros to combat threats by developing cybersecurity systems based on artificial intelligence and quantum computing, in which Spain, fortunately, is well versed,” Sanchez said on Wednesday in a speech to the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the parliament.
Spain faces more than a thousand cyberattacks on critical infrastructure facilities every year, Sanchez noted, adding that the funds will also be used to strengthen the army’s telecommunications capabilities, create new communications satellites, modernize radar systems and introduce 5G networks.
As part of the overall defense plan approved by the government, Spain will increase defense spending to 2% of GDP in 2025, including by redirecting part of the funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Total investment in security and defense next year will amount to 33.1 billion euros.
