Russia's escalating hybrid warfare across Europe
There is a significant increase in Russian covert operations. Bart Schuurman, professor of Terrorism and Political Violence, sheds light on the alarming trend in both the frequence and geographical spread of these incidents with The Parliament Magazine.
‘Not only is the number of incidents increasing, but they are also expanding geographically,’ Schuurman explains. He notes that while these operations were previously concentrated in Scandinavia and the Baltics, they have now shifted westward, with countries like France and Germany becoming new targets.
Russia aims to sow fear, doubt, and division in Europe to hinder coordinated action against Moscow. This strategy was evident in Romania's presidential election, where intelligence agencies uncovered a sophisticated Russian-orchestrated social media campaign, particularly on TikTok, supporting far-right, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu. As a result, citizens are becoming anxious and turning to Kremlin-friendly politicians, potentially undermining Western support for Ukraine.
While NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte calls for increased defence spending, Schuurman suggests a different approach. ‘If Europe redirected the cost of an F-35 fighter jet to counterintelligence, we'd already be in a stronger position,’ he argues.
Read the full article on the website of The Parliament Magazine.