Anna Hartz
Europe is facing growing concerns about Russian interference as political tensions rise in several countries.
Governments across the continent have warned about cyberattacks, disinformation and other forms of pressure from Moscow. Now, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says political parties that ignore these threats could make Europe less prepared to respond, reports United24Media.
Russian hybrid attacks target public opinions
Kallas spoke about the issue in Vilnius on September 7 after the far-right Alternative for Germany made gains in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. Speaking alongside Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, she warned that sabotage and other hybrid operations are getting closer to European borders.
She said some political movements are gaining support while taking a passive approach to the threat from Russia. These parties argue against stronger action, Kallas said. Their position could make it harder for European countries to prepare for future attacks and other forms of interference.
Kallas also stressed that the election result in Saxony-Anhalt is an internal German matter. Voters in a democratic country have the right to choose their political direction.
At the same time, she warned that Europe could find itself without enough defensive measures when new threats appear. Russian hybrid operations can take many forms. They can include cyberattacks, sabotage and attempts to influence public opinion.
Germany has already accused Russia of carrying out hostile activities against the country. The German government recently said there was credible evidence that Moscow was behind a large cyberattack targeting the country’s air traffic control system.
Pressure on democracy
German officials have also accused Russia of running a disinformation campaign during recent elections. They said the goal was to create divisions in German society and weaken public trust in democratic institutions.
The German government linked some of these activities to the so-called Storm 1516 operation and attacks carried out by the Fancy Bear hacking group.
Berlin responded by summoning the Russian ambassador and introducing measures against Moscow.
Kallas’ warning comes as European governments continue to debate how strongly they should respond to Russian interference. The challenge is not only military. Cyberattacks, sabotage and disinformation can also put pressure on democratic countries.
For Kallas, the growing support for parties that oppose tougher action is part of the problem. She says Europe needs to be prepared before these threats become harder to stop.
