Effective Methods to Combat the Kremlin's Hybrid War.

On Christmas, an incident occurred in the Baltic Sea when a cable supplying electricity from Finland to Estonia was damaged, along with four other underwater data transmission cables. Finnish authorities detained a tanker suspected of dragging its anchor and considered part of the 'shadow fleet' used by Russia to circumvent sanctions.

This incident is one of many acts of sabotage attributed to Russia. Russia employs various tactics, from military actions in Ukraine to diversions and political influence in Europe, as well as hiring mercenaries to seize resources in Africa and the Middle East. All of this aims at restoring the lost power after the collapse of the Soviet Union, notes The Washington Post columnist Max Boot.

Lithuanian diplomat Aitvardas Bajarunas points out that the West must conduct its own hybrid war, which will be so devastating that it will halt Russia's unlawful actions. Among his recommendations are to strengthen economic sanctions against 'Russian decision-makers,' pursue legal actions against those 'involved in hybrid actions,' use cyberattacks to neutralize 'Russia-controlled' networks and servers, ban accounts spreading disinformation on social media, and bolster military efforts to prevent Russian sabotage.

However, it is hard to imagine that U.S. President Donald Trump, who is a supporter of Russia and skeptical of NATO, will implement such an agenda while in office. The coming to power of the Trump administration may only continue the existing efforts to counter Russian hybrid operations but will not strengthen them, believes Max Boot.