Germany plans Baltic Sea task force to counter hybrid threats

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans Friday to establish a rapid-response task force to counter escalating hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea region. Speaking ahead of a conference in Flensburg, he said he would discuss the proposal with counterparts from bordering states to enhance information sharing.

"The goal is to establish a rapid-response task force that will enable us to exchange information quickly, particularly in the Baltic Sea region," Dobrindt told the German Press Agency (dpa). He emphasized that the Baltic Sea represents a shared threat area requiring collective security measures, adding: "We want to turn this shared threat area into a shared security area."

Expanding threat environment

Dobrindt warned that hybrid scenarios are becoming more frequent and sophisticated across airspace, maritime routes, cyberspace and critical infrastructure. "Hybrid scenarios are on the rise, becoming more severe, and are omnipresent," he stated, noting that effective responses to incidents such as the recent drone activity at Leipzig Airport require support from partner nations.

The interior minister said he expects attacks to increase in both frequency and technical complexity, necessitating joint response mechanisms. "We will formulate joint responses on how we intend to deal with an escalating threat situation," Dobrindt said regarding the conference at Flensburg's Naval Academy, which includes representatives from Baltic Sea states and Ireland.