A call for a European counter-hybrid playbook
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the European Union needs a mechanism similar to NATO's to respond more effectively to drone incidents, sabotage and cyberattacks across Europe, many of which have been blamed on Russia. She argued that Europe requires its own counter-hybrid playbook and that there must be urgent agreement on how to react to certain incidents, especially those that fall below armed aggression but clearly threaten national security.[S1]
In recent weeks, authorities in Germany, Denmark and Poland have pointed the finger at Russia over a range of hostile acts, including drone intrusions, sabotage, arson, spying on defence sites, and a purported plan to strike an airport with an explosives-laden drone. Earlier this week, Italian warplanes operating alongside NATO brought down a drone above Lithuania, an EU state — the first such interception over its territory. The aircraft was thought to have come from Belarus, a Russian ally.[S1]
Article 4 model and a European Security Council
Von der Leyen proposed that the mechanism mirror Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, under which members fearing for their territory can call emergency talks. Under her plan, a trigger by any single member would bring all members together to shape a coordinated European answer, aimed at discouraging further escalation and limiting the damage. She noted that NATO's Article 4 differs from Article 5, the mutual defence pledge requiring every member to defend an ally that comes under attack.[S1]
The Commission president further stated that the EU executive would present proposals for turning a European Security Council into a reality, with participation from outside partners such as Britain, Canada, Norway and Ukraine. She did not give specifics. Her remarks come as Europe and NATO wrestle with how to react to hostile actions that stop short of full-scale aggression.[S1]
