The NATO Hybrid Symposium took place in Helsinki, Finland, where Allied experts and industry representatives gathered to discuss the challenges posed by adversarial use of hybrid tools. Over the course of two days, members of NATO’s Counter Hybrid Support Teams participated in a training session aimed at boosting the Alliance’s ability to respond to these challenges and strengthening cooperation within the hybrid community. Additionally, there was a session with private sector representatives to explore further collaboration between NATO and industry partners.
One of the key focuses of the symposium was how to better prepare for, deter, and defend against the coercive use of political, economic, energy, information, and other hybrid tactics by authoritarian actors. With Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in mind, Allies are working to strengthen their national resilience against hybrid threats and improve their understanding of the hybrid threat landscape, including strategies used by Russia and China. Russia has been known to destabilize Allied democracies through cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, energy blackmail, and other tactics, including the recent use of migrants against Finland.
This marked the first time the NATO Hybrid Symposium was held in person, and it was co-organized with Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence. Foreign Minister Valtonen expressed pride in hosting the event and emphasized the importance of NATO in countering hybrid activities. Finland is also home to the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, which serves as a hub of expertise for participating countries looking to improve their civil-military capabilities, resilience, and preparedness in the face of hybrid threats. The Centre, inaugurated in 2017 and supported by 35 countries, NATO, and the EU, plays a crucial role in enhancing cooperation and coordination in countering hybrid threats.
Overall, the NATO Hybrid Symposium in Helsinki provided a platform for experts and industry representatives to come together and address the challenges posed by adversarial use of hybrid tools. Through training sessions, discussions, and collaboration with private sector partners, the Alliance aims to enhance its ability to respond to hybrid threats and strengthen cooperation within the hybrid community. With a focus on preparing for and defending against coercive tactics used by authoritarian actors, Allies are working to improve their national resilience and understanding of the hybrid threat landscape, particularly in light of recent developments involving Russia and China. Finland’s hosting of the event and its role in countering hybrid threats, through initiatives such as the European Centre of Excellence, highlight the importance of international cooperation in addressing evolving security challenges.
