NATO official suggests hybrid warfare component in Ceuta crisis

Javier Colomina, NATO's Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, suggested that the mass migration crisis in Ceuta may involve a 'hybrid warfare component.' During a security dialogue, Colomina noted that the use of irregular migration as a weapon of hybrid warfare is a reality, citing previous instances in Lithuania and Poland involving Belarus.

Colomina stated that if Spain chose to invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty regarding Ceuta, the 32 NATO allies would likely offer solidarity. While he clarified that there is no automatic response and that the decision rests with the North Atlantic Council, he emphasized that the Washington Treaty clearly includes the territory of all member allies. He also noted that NATO has been working both conceptually and practically to address hybrid warfare, as it remains a major concern for allies.