On 10 February, SIPRI, the French Navy Centre for Strategic Studies (CESM) and the French Embassy in Stockholm jointly hosted a ‘Franco-Swedish Day on Maritime Hybrid Threats in the Baltic Sea’.
In the past few years, hybrid threats have modified the geopolitical and security environment in the Baltic Sea. Ranging from the use of shadow fleets to seabed operations, including cable cutting, these new but well-established threats pose a challenge to Baltic states and their allies. The Franco-Swedish day brought together Swedish and French maritime experts to exchange views and experiences regarding hybrid threats and how to curb them.
In the morning, a public seminar was held, with opening remarks by HE Thierry Carlier, French Ambassador to Sweden, and Luc van de Goor, SIPRI Director of Studies. Different speakers then shared their analyses of maritime hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea. The seminar was moderated by Dr Pierre Thévenin, Researcher in the SIPRI European Security Programme and maritime security analyst.
On the Swedish side, the seminar featured: Michael Malm, Strategist at the Swedish Armed Forces; Commander Clas Olovsson, former commander of the HSwMS Helsingborg and currently serving at the Swedish Armed Forces’ Joint Forces Command; Niklas Granholm, Deputy Director of Studies at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI); and Commander Jimmie Broth, Senior Operations Officer at the Swedish Coast Guard.
On the French side, it featured: Rear Admiral Laurent Bechler, former chief engineer for submarine squadrons, former naval base commanding officer and current Director of the CESM; Dr Nicolas Mazzucchi, Head of Naval Strategy and Wargaming at the CESM; and Didier Dillard, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Marine, which operates a fleet of cable ships that install and repair submarine cables worldwide.
In the afternoon, a closed-door wargame was held with the seminar speakers and a few selected guests. Focusing on the Baltic Sea, the wargame tested responses to high-interference maritime hybrid threats. It allowed French and Swedish participants to exchange operational insights and foster a common understanding of the Baltic maritime security landscape. All the discussions during the day were held under the Chatham House Rule.