NATO summit concludes with focus on hybrid warfare, Russia’s influence, and Finland’s strategic role
The NATO summit concluded on Thursday in Washington, with the alliance’s goals for the coming year outlined in a public statement. These objectives will be reassessed at next year’s summit. Of particular significance for Finland is the fact that the country contributed to 38 points in the declaration, which includes discussions on hybrid warfare. However, these points are not exclusively the work of Finland, but were developed in collaboration with other NATO countries.
Point 20 of the declaration, in particular, discusses Russia’s hybrid influence. According to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, it’s noteworthy that the instrumentalisation of people is mentioned in this point. The declaration states that Russia has increased its aggressive hybrid actions against NATO member states across the Euro-Atlantic region. These actions include sabotage, acts of violence, provocations at the borders of allies, instrumentalisation of illegal immigration, malicious cyber activity, electronic disturbances, disinformation campaigns, malignant political influence, and economic coercion.
When asked what NATO’s support against hybrid challenges means for Finland, President Stubb explained that there are several approaches. One is to ensure that all NATO countries respond in a coordinated manner to events such as unilateral border transfers or sabotage. Another is attribution, where once it becomes clear what has happened, it is explained where it all originates from.
Point 13 of the declaration states that hybrid operations against allies can reach the level of an armed attack, invoking Article 5 of the Washington treaty. Point 27 discusses cyber and hybrid activities originating from China, which pose systematic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security.
The declaration also mentions threats that define the security environment, including strategic competition, prevailing instability, recurring “shocks”, conflicts and instability in Africa and the Middle East, and Iran’s destabilising actions. According to the declaration, these trends contribute to forced displacements and increase human trafficking and illegal immigration. The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and China and their attempts to nullify and reshape the rules-based international order are also cause for deep concern.
Finland is mentioned twice in the NATO declaration. Firstly, NATO welcomes Sweden as a member of the alliance, stating that the historical accession of Finland and Sweden makes them safer and strengthens the alliance in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Secondly, NATO commits to investing in collective defence, fully utilising the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden and integrating them fully into NATO’s plans, forces, and command structure. Other significant mentions in the declaration include promises to Ukraine and rhetoric about Russia and China. For instance, China is referred to as a “decisive enabler” in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
NATO allies plan to provide Ukraine with at least €40 billion in military aid over the next year. The allies also decided that NATO would take over most of the coordination of Ukraine’s military equipment and training from the US-led temporary coalition. The statement also stated that the alliance will deter and defend against all air and missile threats by enhancing integrated air and missile defence.