News Archive - Page 8 of 16 - Hybrid CoE - The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats

December 11, 2020

RERE 20: An exercise on pandemic response in a hybrid environment

Hybrid CoE, together with the Multinational Medical Coordination Centre / European Medical Command (MMCC/EMC) and the German Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK), hosted Resilient Response 2020 (RERE 20) from 24 to 26 November. RERE 20 was an online pandemic response exercise in which national teams strove to protect their populations from a novel virus, while simultaneously countering hybrid threats.

Over the course of three days, participating nations played out four consecutive rounds of a pandemic scenario, beginning with the initial outbreak of a novel disease and ending with the availability and distribution of a vaccine. Each round had a specific focus and characteristics, including hybrid influencing factors.

The main objectives of the exercise were:

To practise a whole-of-government response to a crisis situation (Epidemic/Pandemic) influenced by hybrid threats on the basis of existing emergency concepts, best practices and lessons identified / learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To increase decision-makers’ awareness of the complexity of decision-making.
To practise cross-governmental coordination and cooperation within an epidemic / a pandemic hybrid crisis scenario.

Shiho Rybski and Markus Metsala from Hybrid CoE were producing hybrid elements to the ‘RERE 20’ exercise.

The exercise featured 12 national teams, with representatives from the EU, NATO and USEUCOM totalling over 120 participants across Europe. In the end, all of the teams were successful in overcoming the pandemic and keeping hybrid threats at bay, thanks to effective national responses and solidarity within the EU and NATO communities.

RERE 20 highlighted the importance of social resilience for countering hybrid threats. Proactive messaging stood out as a crucial tool for dealing with disinformation. Nations that benefitted from diverse, cross-government teams showed creativity in their responses to hybrid threats. They used the exercise to experiment with different approaches and were the catalyst for knowledge expansion among players.

Based on feedback and evaluation, the exercise objectives were achieved. RERE 20 supported the fail-safe practice and enhancement of planning, communications and decision-making in a credible and relevant scenario. There is now a greater understanding of the capacities and procedures for EU and NATO cooperation mechanisms, which will increase preparedness and facilitate a quicker response.

The exercise enabled the comparison and evaluation of national crisis management strategies and enhanced the exchange of experiences and strategies to deal with the current COVID-19 pandemic.

November 11, 2020

Countering hybrid warfare requires a multi-domain response

Hybrid CoE contributed to the NATO Command and Control Centre of Excellence (NATO C2COE) annual seminar on ‘Multi-domain operations – Keys to master complexity’. Dr Johann Schmid gave a presentation during the event on Hybrid warfare and multi-domain operations and contributed to the panel discussion that followed.

Hybrid warfare extends the battlefield by exploiting multiple military and non-military domains and dimensions. Culture, information, economy, technology, and society as a whole can become ‘battlefields’ in this context. Hybrid warfare of a type demonstrated, for example, on the Ukrainian battlefield, if waged against European countries, would pose a particular challenge for Europe and the crisis management and defence of both NATO and the EU. Although it may seem unlikely from today’s perspective, in an extreme case, NATO’s military defence and deterrence posture could be bypassed by subversive means in a ‘downward or horizontal escalation mode.

Countering hybrid actors and activities calls for a comprehensive and coordinated response in multiple domains. Creating an accurate multi-domain situational awareness picture is a first step in this direction.

The NATO C2COE annual seminar focused on multi-domain operations and their impact on command and control (C2). The aim of the seminar was to challenge participants’ preconceived notions of multi-domain operations by providing the latest insights into and perspectives on command and control in the context of a changing operational environment with hybrid warfare as a key element.

Please find the read-ahead article written by Johann Schmid on Hybrid warfare – operating on multidomain battlefields here.

For further information on the NATO C2COE annual seminar, please visit https://c2coe.org/seminar/.

November 3, 2020

Second meeting of the Hybrid CoE Expert Pool on Cyber

Building on the findings of the February 2020 cyber-expert workshop – ‘Future of cyberspace and hybrid threats’ – Hybrid CoE’s Community of Interest on Strategy & Defence together with the Research & Analysis team organized a virtual round table on actors in cyberspace. The experts discussed the hybrid threat implications of activities in cyberspace, with a focus on actor analysis, and the power depiction capabilities and interests of defensive / offensive state and non-state cyber players.

Of particular interest during the discussions were questions on the identified adversarial and predatory behavioral patterns for advancing geopolitical objectives, activities to re-shape the data-related regulatory framework in the rules-based order, and efforts to gain an advantage by deliberately operating below the threshold of armed conflict.

October 27, 2020

The archetype of hybrid warfare

Dr Johann Schmid, Director COI Strategy & Defence at Hybrid CoE, contributed to the latest issue of Österreichische Militärische Zeitschrift (ÖMZ) (Austrian Military Journal) with an article on ‘The archetype of hybrid warfare. Hybrid warfare vs. military-centric warfare’.

The article elaborates the thesis that hybrid warfare as a concept would only be well grounded if based on the existence of a respective counterpart. This counterpart is identified in military-centric warfare and was exemplified in the case of the Falklands War (1982). In comparison with the Second Indochina War as an ‘archetype’ of hybrid warfare, conclusions are drawn in the article for a theory of hybrid warfare.

The main arguments advanced:

As ‘a continuation of policy by other means’ (Clausewitz), war is inherently hybrid. At the same time, however, a specific hybrid way of conducting war can be identified. This is hybrid warfare in the narrower sense.
In order to conceptualize this hybrid warfare, it is particularly important to distinguish it from its counterpart. Without such a counterpart, any concept of hybrid warfare would not be well grounded.
This counterpart can be identified as ‘conventional’ or, more precisely, military-centric warfare. The main distinguishing feature relates to the question of where the centre of gravity in awar/confrontation is located.
In contrast to military-centric warfare, the centre of gravity in hybrid warfare is not primarily located in the military domain but rests in a broad, combined and flexibly used spectrum of multiple domains and dimensions, both military and non-military.

See Johann Schmid: ‘Der Archetypus hybrider Kriegführung. Hybride Kriegführung vs. militärisch zentrierte Kriegführung‘ [The archetype of hybrid warfare. Hybrid warfare vs. military-centric warfare]. In: Österreichische Militärische Zeitschrift (ÖMZ), Heft 5/2020, ISSN 0048-1440. S. 570-579.

Founded in 1808, the ÖMZ is the world’s oldest professional journal on military science.

For further information, please contact Dr Johann Schmid, Director COI Strategy & Defence.

October 15, 2020

Hybrid CoE contributes to NATO Military Police Centre of Excellence webinar on ‘Military police in hybrid war’

Dr Johann Schmid, Director COI Strategy & Defence, contributed to the webinar ‘Military police (MP) in hybrid war’ with a keynote lecture on ‘Hybrid warfare – a specific style of warfare’.

Key messages relayed about hybrid warfare during the webinar:

Hybrid warfare exploits vulnerabilities in the grey areas of interfaces. Therefore, hybrid warfare actors tend to operate simultaneously in multiple domains in the shadows of various interfaces: e.g. between warand peace, friend and foe, internal and external security, civil and military domains, state and non-state actors, as well as between the virtual and the real world, and between reality and propaganda.

In this way, hybrid warfare blurs traditional lines of order and responsibilities while aiming for their subsequent dissolution with the ultimate goal of creating ambiguities, making attribution difficult, andparalyzing the decision-making process of the opponent.

Countering such a blended, non-linear hybrid warfare approach in multiple domains also poses new challenges for the traditional role of the military police.

The goal of the webinar was to provide the NATO MP Community of Interest with an opportunity to examine specific tactical issues of interest to the military police within the context of hybrid war, with the aim of benefitting NATO’s future capability development. The event drew on experience of hybrid warfare in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, and addressed topics relating to defence policing in the context of hybrid war.

The webinar was organized by the NATO Military Police Centre of Excellence (NATO MP COE) in cooperation with the Ukrainian Military Law and Order Service (MLOS). It included contributors from Canada, Germany, Slovakia, and Ukraine, as well as from NATO Headquarters and Allied Command Operations (ACO). In addition, a large number of participants from across NATO allies and Partnership for Peace countries were part of the endeavour.

For further information on the event, please see: here.

For further information on hybrid warfare, please see: here.

Source: Shutterstock

October 21, 2020

Hybrid threats and the use of the cyber domain

Dr Josef Schröfl, Deputy Director of the Community of Interest Strategy & Defence, contributed as one of the keynote speakers to the ‘Hybrid threats and the use of the cyber domain’ virtual conference, organized by the Portuguese Military University on 21 October. The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of hybrid attacks and cyber power, and to shed light on the trends of hybrid threats and their use in the cyber domain, as well as the avenues they open up for developing European defence capabilities and resilience against cyber threats.

Hybrid and cyber threats are paramount areas of interest, playing an important part in the agenda for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (PPUE) in 2021. During the presidency, Portugal will host both the ‘Cyber Phalanx 2021’ combined course and exercise, as well as a ‘Comprehensive cyber strategic decision-making’ exercise providing hybrid scenario training opportunities and an information and experience sharing platform.

‘Cyberattacks against EU countries have increased by over 200% during the COVID-19 pandemic, while cyber has emerged as a major enabler of hybrid threats posed by government agencies and non-state actors. An understanding of the shape of the new threats posed by cyber power is needed more than ever,’ concluded Dr Schröfl during his keynote speech.

October 20, 2020

Jori Arvonen elected to continue as chairman of Hybrid CoE Steering Board

Jori Arvonen, Under-Secretary of State for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office of Finland, has been re-elected for a new three-year term as chairman of Hybrid CoE Steering Board. Mr Arvonen has led the Steering Board since the establishment of the Centre.

‘Since we established Hybrid CoE in 2017, hybrid threats have been on the rise, showing that our joint effort was indeed a necessary one. In the meantime, the Centre has helped the participating states as well as the EU and NATO to share best practices, build capabilities, test new ideas and counter hybrid threats,’ Mr Arvonen said.

‘During these early years, I have been privileged to work closely with the Centre’s highly professional staff. By bringing these brains together, we have created a true centre of excellence, working together with our global network. That’s why I still value the original idea of how the Centre is structured,’ he noted with satisfaction.

Hybrid CoE is an independent international centre enhancing participating states’ capabilities to counter hybrid threats. It does so by sharing best practices, testing new ideas and approaches, and providing training and exercises. The Centre currently has 28 participating states. Participation is open to all EU member states and NATO allies.

October 5, 2020

Follow the money: Understanding the threat covert foreign financing poses to democracies

On 1 October, Hybrid CoE organized a webinar together with the Alliance for Securing Democracy on the threatthat malign financial activity poses to democracies across the transatlantic space. Authoritarian powers like China and Russia are covertly financing political actors to undermine democracies. Authoritarians use malign financial activity as a geopolitical tool to exploit the openness of Western institutions and economies. Democracies must act – both domestically and in concert with allies – to strengthen their institutions and improve transparency in order to shine a light on authoritarian efforts and mitigate this growing threat.

In addition to Director Teija Tiilikainen and Senior Analyst Janne Jokinen from Hybrid CoE, the other panelists taking part in the interactive discussion were Ellen Weintraub, Commissioner on the US Federal Election Commission, and Josh Rudolph, Malign Finance Fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy. The panelists discussed the vulnerabilities that authoritarian actors exploit and the steps that democracies should take to both prevent and respond to this behaviour. The event highlighted the importance of transatlantic cooperation in countering financial threats and offered a deep dive into how each side of the Atlantic is actively attempting to address covert foreign money.

The webinar recording is available here.

See Hybrid CoE’s latest Working Paper on hybrid threats in the financial system here.

See ASD’s latest report on covert foreign money here.

The webinar moderator Amy Mackinnon with the panelists Ellen Weintraub, Teija Tiilikainen, Janne Jokinen, and Josh Rudolph.

Director Jukka Savolainen discussing one of the scenarios with the participants.

September 22, 2020

Virtual training on maritime scenarios

The first “Train the trainers” virtual training on maritime scenarios took place on 22 September 2020. The event informed of possible maritime hybrid operations in the current security environment and provided an opportunity to identify potential political and legal mitigation tools against maritime hybrid situations. Furthermore, it presented a structure for policy and concept development.

The training brought together practitioners from many Hybrid CoE Participating States including both legal and policy planning officials from several ministries and related agencies with connection to maritime issues. The event utilised realistic scenarios and encouraged participants to deliberate their respective responses. Future “Train the trainers” events will be provided at a later stage.

September 15, 2020

‘Mind the Gaps’ online symposium, Hybrid Warfare: Future & Technologies (HYFUTEC) Presentation of project findings

On 15 September, Hybrid CoE and its Community of Interest Strategy & Defence, in close cooperation with StratByrd Consulting, introduced selected findings of the Hybrid Warfare: Future and Technologies (HYFUTEC) project to a wide range of attendees from 26 participating states, the EU, NATO, and the private sector. The event started with the politico-strategic context, and focused on key findings of the project report, including deeper dives into technologies that are likely to drive developments in hybrid conflict/warfare in the coming years: artificial intelligence; social media; space; cyber and 5G; including reflections on serious gaming and HYFUTEC as an educational tool.

New technologies have a catalytic effect on hybrid methods and tools. They improve the starting conditions for hybrid action, expand the arsenal of hybrid players and thus help to increase the reach of their activities, as well as their prospects of success. At the same time, new technological developments offer options to better identify, understand, defend against and counter hybrid attacks.

The HYFUTEC project aims at assessing and enhancing understanding of the disruptive potential of new technologies in the context of hybrid warfare/conflict. The project has identified 19 technologies as being particularly relevant for the evolution of hybrid challenges, conflict and warfare. Its findings point to hybrid actors that have exploited the current conceptual and resulting capability gaps of the West. Several of these actors are making skilful use of inexpensive, commercially available technologies to further their own ambitions and power objectives. This development opens the floodgates to coercion and blackmailing by malicious actors, thus putting NATO and EU cohesion and solidarity at risk.

Driven by the catalytic effect of new technologies, hybrid warfare can be expected to become a long-term strategic challenge. In order to prevent, deter and – if necessary – outmanoeuvre hybrid opponents, it is therefore important for political, civilian and military leaders and decision-makers, as well as for industry and academia, to develop a common and comprehensive understanding of the implications of new technologies in a hybrid warfare/conflict context.

Please find the event teaser HERE.