From planning to action : Driving digital transformation at the Five Eyes’ Combined Digital Leadership Summit (CDLS)

January 6, 2026 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time – 2:30

A last-minute change of plans turned this year’s Five Eyes (FVEY) digital summit into a major cross-team and cross-globe effort. Originally scheduled for Washington DC, the November 17-20 Combined Digital Leadership Summit (CDLS) was moved to Ottawa on very short notice.

Teams from across the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) came together with only weeks to spare to deliver a secure, high-priority multinational event. The event logistics, which normally require months of planning, gave new meaning to the term ‘interoperability’ with a revised Canadian location, a U.S. host and attendance and participation by senior technology leaders and senior military communication officials from all FVEY’s countries (Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada).

The Summit also brought together the three component FVEY organizations comprising the CDLS which includes the Defence Chief Information Forum (DCIOF), the Defence Chief Data Officer Forum (DCDOF), and the Combined Communications-Electronics Board (CCEB).

Aligning digital ambitions

Recognizing the complexity of modern digital operations, CDLS Principals discussed the systems and tools needed to deliver timely, integrated data to warfighters, for faster, more actionable insights.

Multilateral discussions focused on aligning digital initiatives, streamlining standards and policies, removing barriers to innovation, and data sharing across nations. Topics such as Digital Foundation Architecture, Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM), Cloud Service Provisioning, the Digital Targeting Web (DTW), and other emerging digital capabilities essential to coalition operations were discussed.

Key milestone achieved: Signing of the PKI Cross-Certification Agreement (CCA) between Canada and the United States

During the Summit on  November 19, Canada’s DND and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) formally signed the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Cross-Certification Arrangement (CCA), enabling seamless, secure authentication and communication across both nations’ defence networks. The CCA paves the way for future ICAM federation, supports network convergence, and strengthens coalition interoperability – all of which are foundational to pan-domain Command and Control (C2).

Strengthening partnerships

The CDLS was an opportunity to reinforce the DND/CAF commitment to strengthening interoperability with FVEY partners.

Through coordinated information and communication technology (ICT) investments, DND/CAF is supporting pan-domain operations and furthering its commitment to digital readiness through:

• System integration to support real-time communication and operational cohesion;
• Joint capability development aligned with NATO and FVEY standards and to ensure effective ICT investment; 
• An information-sharing framework to enhance situational awareness and decision-making across mission partners; and
• Continuous assessment and improvement by adapting digital strategies to evolving threats, technologies, and operational needs.

What’s next for pan-domain operations?

As digital threats evolve, DND/CAF is well-positioned to leverage the collective expertise of the FVEY partnership.  By aligning our collective efforts and embracing innovation, the Defence Team – in collaboration with our Five Eyes partners – has renewed its commitment to defeating our adversaries in the digital space.

With an investment framework and the foundational work in place for key initiatives, the focus of future CDLS events can now shift from discussion and planning to action.