Politics · Italy · 11 hrs ago
Crosetto calls for a united strategy against hybrid warfare
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called for state institutions to agree on a shared strategy against hybrid and cognitive warfare.
He said the threat is growing because new technologies can speed up attacks and their effects.
Cyberattacks can disrupt essential services, including hospital electricity or systems that store blood.
Crosetto also warned that stolen health data could be kept until quantum computers can decrypt it.
Cognitive warfare uses tools such as social media to shape people’s views, fuel anger and weaken support for democratic values.
He said hostile states, including Russia, China and Iran, seek to weaken democracies and Europe.
Crosetto said no country is equipped to win hybrid warfare, and argued that simply defending against attacks is not enough.
He urged Italy’s government, parliament and other institutions to work together, but gave no specific next steps.
Guido Crosetto called on Italy’s state institutions and political parties to agree on a shared strategy against hybrid and cognitive warfare.
The Italian defence minister said no country is equipped to fight and win this kind of conflict.
He warned that cyberattacks can disrupt essential services, including hospitals, and that hostile actors can use social media to influence public attitudes.
Crosetto said Russia, China and Iran conduct cyber warfare to weaken democracies and Europe.
He said simply defending against hybrid attacks is not enough.
- Who
- Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called for a united response.
- What
- He urged state institutions and political parties to agree on a strategy against hybrid and cognitive warfare.
- When
- The interview was published on 9 November 2026.
- Where
- Italy; Crosetto also referred to discussions at the EU and NATO.
- Why
- He warned that cyberattacks and influence operations can harm essential services and weaken democracies.
Democracies and Europe
Russia, China and Iran
Aims
Democracies and Europe
Crosetto said democracies should unite to protect their society, rights and values.
Russia, China and Iran
Crosetto said these states seek to weaken democracies and Europe.
Methods
Democracies and Europe
Crosetto called for a shared strategy to counter hybrid and cognitive warfare.
Russia, China and Iran
Crosetto said hostile actors use cyberattacks and social media to cause harm and influence people.
Crosetto said he had been targeted by attacks from friends and enemies.
Corriere della Sera published Crosetto’s call for a united strategy against hybrid warfare.
- Minister
- Guido Crosetto
- Outlet
- Corriere della Sera
- Publication date
- 9 November 2026
- Threats named
- Hybrid and cognitive warfare
- States named by Crosetto
- Russia, China and Iran
What people are saying
Tutti i poteri dello Stato dovrebbero deporre l’ascia di guerra, chiudersi in una stanza e decidere insieme una strategia per sopravvivere.
Nessuno è attrezzato per combattere e vincere la guerra ibrida e cognitiva.
se ci limitiamo a difenderci dagli attacchi di guerra ibrida abbiamo perso.