Economy is key: companies are preparing against hybrid threats!

Economy is key: companies are preparing against hybrid threats!

The geopolitical threat, particularly from Russia, is being taken increasingly seriously in Germany. In view of this development, NATO is arming itself to deter potential attacks from Russia. In this context, US President Donald Trump expressed doubts about the support of the United States in the event of a NATO alliance. The reactions from Germany and the EU include a comprehensive rearmament, with the economics minister of Baden-Württemberg, Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, also emphasizing the importance of the economy for national defense capability. This economic dimension becomes more important as hybrid warfare, which includes both military and economic attacks, becomes more relevant. Loud Swabian 75 percent of all German companies are already affected by espionage.

In order to prepare companies for the issue, the Lake Constance-Upper Swabia Chamber of Commerce and Industry has set up a coordination office for overall defense. An event in Friedrichshafen is being organized to sensitize entrepreneurs to the dangers and challenges of hybrid conflicts. IHK President Martin Buck emphasizes that the economy is a central pillar for Germany's deterrence and defense capability. The Ministry of Economic Affairs provides support for the overall defense project.

Hybrid warfare threats

Hybrid warfare describes a combination of military, political, economic and digital attack methods that are characterized by their complexity and subtlety. These types of conflicts are harder to capture than classic wars because they are not limited to military offensives but also target cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and economic pressure. Security experts warn of targeted attacks on critical infrastructure, which is also loud Bundeswehr news has become increasingly common in recent years.

Stephan Gundel, a security expert, identifies four main threats: espionage, sabotage, activism and supply chain disruption. In addition, organized crime, which has increased since the Ukraine war, is a serious problem. Many perpetrators often come from Russia and China. The federal government and security experts are calling on companies to check their supply chains and analyze the reliability of their suppliers. In this context, outsourcing departments poses significant risks, especially when it comes to autocratic countries.

Prevention measures and activities

In order to respond to these challenges, a new course for companies is being offered as a pilot project in the Lake Constance-Upper Swabia region. The aim of this program is to prepare companies for defense issues and achieve 72-hour self-sufficiency. Hoffmeister-Kraut emphasizes that it is crucial for companies to critically examine themselves and secure regional value chains. The role of civil society is becoming increasingly important, as hybrid conflicts can undermine the population's trust in institutions.

Overall, Germany's security policy is required to adapt to the new challenges of hybrid warfare. This will not only affect national security strategies, but also the education and enlightenment of all social actors. Targeted manipulation of information is often underestimated, but has the potential to undermine trust and divide social groups.