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Panel warns of Russian hybrid tactics: undersea cable sabotage and disinformation challenges
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Summary
Members and witnesses discussed repeated attacks on undersea cables in the Baltic, hybrid tactics including sabotage and disinformation, and concerns about the elimination or scaling-back of U.S. counter-disinformation capabilities such as the Global Engagement Center.
Representative Titus and other members raised hybrid threats—undersea cable damage, arson at weapon warehouses, and disinformation campaigns—during a House Subcommittee on Europe hearing. Witnesses described steps NATO and partners are taking and warned of capacity gaps in U.S. counter-disinformation tools.
Why it matters: Sabotage of critical infrastructure and disinformation can degrade alliance cohesion and complicate military logistics. Members cited at least 11 damaged undersea cables in the Baltic Sea since October 2023 and described instances of arson and other covert actions that undermine NATO support for Ukraine.
Ambassador Julianne Smith described allied responses: increased surveillance in the Baltic Sea, intelligence sharing, and development of a NATO toolkit to counter such gray-zone attacks. She said NATO now exercises and trains to test possible Article 5 thresholds in response to hybrid attacks.
Representative Titus and witnesses discussed the Global Engagement Center (GEC) and other U.S. capabilities for countering foreign information manipulation. Smith and other witnesses expressed concern about the expiration or closure of some U.S. entities: Smith said the elimination of the GEC's authorities in Congress and later administrative moves have reduced U.S. capacity to lead allied efforts against disinformation. Witnesses also noted other changes in U.S. public-diplomacy distribution platforms and urged sustained investment in countering malign narratives.
The hearing recorded these concerns and the alliance's evolving mitigation measures; no formal policy changes were adopted.The committee asked witnesses to provide further details for the record on detection, attribution and the tools NATO and partners need to deter and respond to hybrid attacks.
