Europe has long been a target of hybrid attacks by hostile actors. While these attacks remain below the threshold for a NATO Article 5 response, they aim to fundamentally undermine the resilience of democratic countries. How can we defend ourselves against them, and what are the strengths Europe can build on? These were among the topics discussed with Teija Tiilikainen, Director of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE). The discussion was held in partnership with the Embassy of Finland in Prague, which also hosted the event.
State actors – particularly Russia and China – pursue a clear strategy in their efforts to undermine European resilience, seeking to exploit domestic issues that democratic societies are grappling with. These include migration, economic inequalities, and identity-based divisions, including gender inequality. In doing so, hostile actors often exploit the very values on which democratic societies are built – values that can simultaneously be seen as their greatest strengths. Ukraine is frequently cited as a prominent example of a society demonstrating remarkable resilience while facing Russian aggression for the fifth consecutive year. During the discussion, we also explored how Europe can promote democracy more actively and effectively worldwide, thereby countering the expanding influence of authoritarian actors.
