Hybrid Threats – A relevant security challenge
The fact that “hybrid threats” have become a ubiquitous term is a testament to Europeans' realization of a changed security landscape. Not only have we abandoned the idea that there is merely either war or peace acknowledging the existence of a grey zone, but also that this grey zone has grown tremendously and there is no straightforward response to this trend. With a rapidly expanding digital sphere, which connects public institutions as well as private individuals, the attack surface has grown, and everyone is a potential target. Foreign actors have understood that the weakness of democracies lies within their openness and informed consent of the critical mass of its citizens. As such, manipulating democratic structures and public support might be the easiest and most effective way to harm the EU and its member states. Thereby, hybrid threats in all its dimensions have become a fundamental and major security issue, albeit not always apparent.
Voice from Brussels: Etienne Soula, German Marshall Fund of the United States
“While the EU has come a long way on recognizing and addressing hybrid threats over the past few years, its efforts still fall short. With the tacit assent of China, Russia is waging an open war on the EU’s borders as well as conducting disruptive, and increasingly violent, covert actions within the bloc’s borders. Just in the past few months, elections around, and possibly within, the EU have all been tainted by Moscow’s brazen efforts to influence the outcome of the vote. European IT systems, and now infrastructure, are targeted in attacks that cause economic damage and chip away at citizens’ trust in their governments’ ability to provide them with effective services. The too few agencies set up to respond to hybrid threats need to be replicated in all member states and governments need to explain to their populations what they are up against. There are still member states, political parties, and private sector actors that promote stronger diplomatic and economic ties between the EU and the very authoritarian states that are undermining it. This cannot stand and the EU has to more forcefully confront the revisionist regimes that use hybrid tactics to divide it, as well as their proxies. Failure to do so will result in a critical loss of European agency and sovereignty and turn the continent into a mere battleground for larger powers.“
Voice from Berlin: Ferdinand Gehringer, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
“In effectively addressing hybrid threats in Europe, we are still at the beginning. We need to examine whether our European and national security structures are aligned to these threats. The responsibilities of the authorities are often unclear, making quick responses difficult. Attacks often cannot be attributed to state actors or criminal groups, as state attackers sometimes use criminal groups to conceal their identity. Additionally, we need a comprehensive situational awareness that can contextualize various hybrid tactics. The public must be better informed about these threats and our vulnerabilities so that we can prepare socially for disruptions. To increase the threshold for future attacks, European and international coordination is crucial. Currently, European capitals are not sufficiently prepared for hybrid threats. The number of attacks is increasing, and the attackers are becoming faster and more coordinated. Our response must be at least as fast and coordinated, and both state and societal structures must be adapted.“
What is the idea behind this project? The KAS Europe Security Snapshot is designed to provide concise and insightful analysis on a range of security issues, notably those that are currently prominent on the political agenda in Europe and others that are not yet being sufficiently addressed. Against the backdrop of the current geopolitical challenges and the advent of a new era for European security and defence, as indicated in the political guidelines of the new European Commission, the publication series aims to break down current trends in order to make them accessible to a wider audience. New briefings will be published several times per year.
