Transatlantic Security Institutions and Hybrid Threats: Adaptation, Gaps, and Policy Imperatives

Since 2022, Russia has intensified its hybrid warfare against Western states, exposing persistent vulnerabilities in NATO and EU responses. Despite new sanctions, evolving doctrines, and enhanced operational tools, key challenges remain — including legal uncertainty, attribution difficulties, fragmented coordination, and a continued imbalance between military spending and resilience investment. Rapidly evolving disinformation and systemic pressure on critical infrastructure further strain Europe’s adaptive capacity. This policy brief calls for a unified NATO-EU doctrine addressing all domains of hybrid warfare, a strategic shift toward strengthening societal and infrastructure resilience, and the implementation of clear emergency protocols to ensure a more coordinated and effective response to this growing threat.