Media: Germany urges EU to toughen stance on hybrid threats from Russia

Germany is urging European Union countries to adopt a firmer approach towards hybrid threats emanating from Russia, calling for an expansion of the EU's sanctions regime and tighter restrictions on Moscow's diplomatic missions in Europe.

In advance of next week's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has circulated proposals aimed at coordinating collective action, Caliber.Az reports via Politico.

These proposals come in response to Russia's intensified hybrid warfare tactics since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns across Europe.A recent example highlighted by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius includes the suspected sabotage of energy and communication cables in the Baltic Sea.

In response, Germany's foreign ministry is pushing for new sanctions targeting Russia's “shadow fleet”—a network of oil and gas tankers facilitating illicit fossil fuel sales, which have earned Moscow billions of dollars.  Furthermore, there are calls to limit the duration of Russian diplomats' accreditation and restrict their movement within Europe.

Germany is also advocating for closer collaboration with private companies, such as cable providers, to enhance resilience against future hybrid attacks. The country is calling for regular stress tests on critical infrastructure to prepare for potential threats.

To address the challenge of attribution, which has hindered governments in the past, Germany is pushing for a more proactive EU communications strategy. This would involve declassifying intelligence to publicly attribute specific incidents to Russia, making it clearer that the country is behind certain attacks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev