Russia's hybrid warfare: Does NATO be the use of Article 5?

Russia's hybrid warfare: Does NATO be the use of Article 5?

Russia's hybrid warfare could force NATO allies to act!

In an alarming statement, the German secret service chief Bruno Kahl warned that the constant hybrid warfare tactics of Russia increase the risk of NATO consider its article 5 defense clause. This clause says that an attack on a NATO member is considered an attack on all members. Kahl emphasized that the threat from hybrid warfare, which uses both conventional and unconventional means to generate instability, may not be underestimated.

The recent incidents that are causing these worries are the mysterious damage to two submarines in the Baltic Sea, which were damaged on November 17 and 18. A ship driving under the flag of China, the Yi Peng 3, which at the same time passed over the cables, is now the focus of the investigation. The Swedish authorities examine whether the damage was caused by an anchor while the Danish navy monitors the ship. Kahl’s warnings come in the middle of an intensive debate about the growing hybrid attacks in Russia that intervene directly in the democracies of NATO countries.

The threat from hybrid warfare

Russia has long been accused of doing hybrid warfare that aims to create unrest and division in other countries. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte explained that Russia has an increased campaign of hybrid attacks on the NATO countries that both sabotage and perform violence. These tactics ranging from election manipulation to attacks on critical infrastructures are often difficult to prove and increase the complexity of the international security situation.

NATO faces the challenge of reacting to these threats appropriately. Experts warn that disagreement within the NATO countries makes Europe susceptible to combating hybrid warfare in Europe. While some analysts believe that NATO Article 5 will not activate against Russia because the hybrid warfare is not considered a "real war", the question remains how alliance will react to the intensified situation. Time is pushing and the threat of Russia's hybrid tactics could soon become a serious challenge for NATO.