Countering intelligence threats is an ongoing process during both peace and war. Although counter-intelligence is mainly a national domain, NATO as an Alliance must also act effectively in this field. The NATO Counter Intelligence (CI) Centre of Excellence (COE) was established for this purpose.
The NATO CI COE is a key element in the Alliance’s efforts to degrade destructive activities of hostile intelligence services. It is a force multiplier for the CI efforts of NATO operations, exercises, policies, concepts, and strategies.
Who we are / What we do
The NATO Counter Intelligence Centre of Excellence (CI COE) has a rich history that began in 2015 with its establishment under the Paris Protocol. The North Atlantic Council granted the Centre accreditation two years later, making it a NATO-accredited Centre of Excellence. The Centre benefits from having two framework nations, Poland and Slovakia. This bilateral structure provides a recently expanded headquarters in Krakow, Poland, and a multifunctional facility at the Military Training Center in Lest, Slovakia.
The NATO CI COE continuously hones and expands its offerings to meet member nations’ needs, reflecting the Alliance’s commitment to operating skillfully in this critical area. While CI is primarily a national responsibility outside of contingencies, the CI COE reflects the Alliance’s commitment to providing valuable resources and support to the entire NATO CI Community. The Centre’s experts work tirelessly to ensure the safety and effectiveness of NATO-led operations in an ever-changing and complex environment.