May 12, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Representatives Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee’s Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, today issued the following joint statement after they hosted an inaugural briefing with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats.
“We were pleased today to host the inaugural briefing with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE). This event is a continuation of the subcommittee’s March 16 hearing entitled, ‘Disinformation in the Gray Zone: Opportunities, Limitations, and Challenges.’
“The Director of the Hybrid CoE, Dr. Teija Tiilikainen, briefed the subcommittee on the current and emerging threat landscape and the way states can develop resilience and build capacities to counter disinformation and other hybrid threats. The independent nature of the Hybrid CoE, working across the European Union and NATO, as well as with academia and the private sector, is truly unique; and is generating more integrated approaches to building resiliency.
“Russia, China, and others have operated with near impunity conducting aggressive disinformation and misinformation campaigns to undermine democracies. These destructive and destabilizing actions require a dedicated and cohesive effort from the international community of allies and partners; Hybrid CoE is leading in that effort. We commend the Hybrid CoE for their accomplishments and look forward to continuing to support the work of the Hybrid CoE to inform our oversight within the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee.”
###