Hybrid CoE Paper 26 Russia’s sustained use of hybrid threat tools on Svalbard has become a defining feature of the security environment in the Arctic, where legal ambiguity, historical narratives and grey-zone actions are leveraged to pressure Norway and test Western cohesion.
This Hybrid CoE Paper outlines how Moscow blends information campaigns, coercive signalling at sea, symbolic gestures and surprise visits to challenge Norwegian authority while remaining below the threshold of open conflict. To counter this, the paper recommends a twofold strategy of deterring Russian hybrid threats while building resilience in Norway. This includes investment in enhanced institutional defences, public awareness campaigns, strengthened international cooperation and support for independent editorial-led media to resist information manipulation.
