NATO, EU agree to enhance cooperation in fighting 'hybrid warfare'

NATO and the European Union (EU) on Thursday agreed to enhance cooperation in countering "hybrid warfare" combining conventional attacks with non-conventional methods, such as subversion, cyber-attacks, deception and disinformation that the alliance says Russia has used against Ukraine.

The NATO foreign ministers and EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini gathered in Turkey's southern Antalya province, discussing the long-term security implications of Russia's actions which the alliance describes as "assertive and unpredictable," as well as the challenges posed by extremism and violence in the Middle East and North Africa.

"Both Federica Mogherini and I have decided to task our teams to intensify NATO-EU cooperation in countering hybrid warfare," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference.

"We will ensure that the strategies we are developing are complimentary, so that we can work together quickly and effectively in case of a hybrid threat against our members," he added.

Mogherini briefed NATO foreign ministers on the Union's plans for an EU operation to destroy vessels used to smuggle thousands of illegal migrants going to Europe from Africa and the Middle East, which have led to thousands of deaths.

"If the European Union presents requests to NATO, of course, we will seriously consider them and assess them," Stoltenberg said, adding that "but so far, there has been no request from the EU for any specific assistance."