On July 7, the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center hosted the discussion From Sabotage to Swarms: Evaluating Hybrid Warfare in the Baltic Sea Region at #AlliesinAnkara, the NATO Summit’s official side event hub. The event questioned the evolving nature of hybrid warfare and its implications for security in the Baltic Sea region.
The discussion was moderated by GSSC Director Linas Kojala.
The panel featured Tobias Bunde, Director of Research and Policy at the Munich Security Conference; Elena Lazarou, Director General at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy; Oana Lungescu, Distinguished Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute; Deividas Matulionis, Chief National Security Adviser to the President of the Republic of Lithuania; Edward Lucas, Founder and Director of the Baltic International Security Centre; and Sander Soone, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.
Instead of zeroing in on a single threat or incident, the discussion addressed a bigger question: how can Allies adapt to a fast-growing array of challenges that slip beneath the radar of traditional conflict? From acts of sabotage and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure to maritime security scares, drone incursions, and cyber-driven disruptions, speakers painted a picture of a Baltic Sea region where the rules of security are being rewritten. The conversation showed the mounting difficulty of tracing attacks, the delicacy of deterrence in the grey zone, and the puzzle of countering disruptive actions that stop just short of provoking a military response. Though opinions varied on the severity of the threat and the success of current strategies, everyone agreed that resilience, political will, and tighter cooperation among Allies are vital to navigating this increasingly tangled security landscape. One message echoed throughout: these challenges are no longer limited to NATO’s eastern edge, but are now reshaping the security map of all of Europe.
Thank you, Munich Security Conference and SETA Foundation, for excellent cooperation.
