Irena Malinowska

The purpose of this article is to examine the development of the capabilities of the NATO crisis management system in countering hybrid threats. This issue should be understood in the context of the changing security reality, where hybrid activities are an increasing challenge for the Alliance. The first part of the article describes NATO’s crisis management system, listing the basic elements. The deterrence element was then presented as an important determinant of NATO’s capabilities. The main part focused on activities aimed at increasing NATO’s ability to combat hybrid threats in the aspect of crisis management. In conclusion, it was concluded that the development of NATO’s crisis management capabilities in the context of hybrid threats is a key element of the alliance’s adaptation to the changing security reality. The research problem was formulated: What actions is the North Atlantic Alliance taking to increase the ability of the crisis management system to combat new hybrid threats? The research problem focuses on the effectiveness of NATO’s actions in countering hybrid threats and on the identification of areas for further improvement. The survey focuses on assessing both military and civilian actions taken by NATO in response to hybrid threats. In accordance with the research problem posed, the author formulated a research hypothesis which assumes that through coordinated actions covering both military-defence and civilian aspects, NATO is able to counter hybrid threats more effectively. However, there is also the likelihood that there are areas where NATO’s capabilities to counter hybrid threats may be limited or require further development. The study conducted a detailed analysis of official NATO documents, such as reports, strategies, guidelines and policy documents, to understand the Alliance’s approach to countering hybrid threats and to assess progress in the development of crisis capabilities, and to draw on scientific articles from recent years. It also analysed cases of hybrid activities that have taken place in the past and in which NATO has been involved or could have deployed its crisis capabilities. The case studies provided insight into the effectiveness of NATO’s operations and the identification of areas for improvement. The research methods used allowed for a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the issues and effective assessment of the capabilities of the NATO crisis management system in combating hybrid threats.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict on Poland’s security situation. After the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Eastern European region became an arena of new geopolitical tensions. The conflict in Ukraine, which erupted in 2014, represents one of the most significant challenges to international stability, including Poland’s security. The article points out that Poland, as a member of NATO and the EU, occupies a strategic position in the region, making its security closely tied to events in neighboring countries, particularly Ukraine. In the context of this conflict, the main threats to Poland include the possibility of military actions spreading to border areas, cyberattacks, disinformation propaganda, and hybrid activities from Russia. Furthermore, the authors of the article analyze Poland’s responses to these threats, including increased defense spending, modernization of the armed forces, and strengthening cooperation with allies within NATO and the EU. Poland is also involved in various international initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine, which may raise concerns in Russia and lead to retaliatory actions, such as economic sanctions or attempts at political destabilization.
In the conclusion, the article emphasizes that Poland must continue strengthening its defense capabilities and political stability while promoting international dialogue and diplomacy as means to reduce regional tensions. For the purposes of the article, the research problem was formulated as a question: How does the Ukrainian-Russian conflict affect Poland’s security as well as its foreign and defense policy? In response to this research problem, the hypothesis was posed: The Ukrainian-Russian conflict increases the sense of threat in Poland, prompting the Polish government to intensify efforts to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and to be more actively involved in international alliances such as NATO and the EU. To answer the research question, methods such as critical analysis of the literature, analysis of legal acts and documents, as well as reliable online sources were used.