US halts efforts against Russian hybrid warfare amid shifting policy toward Moscow

Wednesday 19 March 2025 - 10:38

By: Zahouani Ilham

US halts efforts against Russian hybrid warfare amid shifting policy toward Moscow

Several U.S. national security agencies have paused their coordinated efforts to counter Russian disinformation, sabotage, and cyberattacks, reducing pressure on Moscow while the Trump Administration pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine. Last year, President Joe Biden had directed his national security team to establish groups focused on monitoring Russia's hybrid warfare, following U.S. intelligence warnings of an escalation. The initiative, led by the National Security Council (NSC), involved collaboration among at least seven national security agencies with European allies to counter Russian plots targeting Europe and the U.S.

Before Donald Trump's inauguration, his transition team was briefed by Biden’s officials and encouraged to continue tracking Russia’s hybrid tactics. However, after Trump assumed office on January 20, much of the work on this issue ceased. Current and former officials, speaking anonymously, reported that regular meetings between the NSC and European counterparts stopped, and formal coordination efforts among U.S. agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security, and the State Department, were halted.

The extent to which the administration has ordered the suspension of monitoring and counteracting Russia's efforts remains unclear. Some officials expressed concerns that the Trump administration is deprioritizing the issue, despite continued intelligence warnings. This shift follows the cancellation of other Russia-related projects, such as the FBI’s initiative to counter foreign election interference and the Department of Justice’s dismantling of a team targeting Russian oligarchs' assets.

It is also uncertain whether the U.S. continues sharing intelligence on Russia's sabotage campaign with European allies, although UK officials confirmed that intelligence-sharing between the U.S. and the UK continues.

The White House referred inquiries on the suspension to the NSC, with spokesperson Brian Hughes emphasizing that the NSC assesses threats to Americans and coordinates responses with relevant agencies. A senior U.S. official at NATO also stated that coordination with allies continues, though further details were not provided. The EU’s spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Anitta Hipper, confirmed that the EU is collaborating with NATO on countering hybrid threats, including disinformation and infrastructure sabotage.

The pause in U.S. efforts coincides with a shift in Trump’s policy toward Europe and Ukraine, raising concerns among U.S. and European officials that Ukraine could be pressured into a peace agreement favoring Russia. Recently, Trump has made statements and policy moves that seem to align with Russia, arguing that better relations with Moscow serve U.S. strategic interests and could prevent a potential escalation into World War III. On Tuesday, Trump secured an agreement from President Vladimir Putin for both Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days.