A comprehensive analysis of the security threats that Europe and Austria may face in the near future was presented today by the Austrian Ministry of Defence. The key message from the presentation is that Europe is already in a state of war, not in the classical sense, but through hybrid warfare, cyberattacks and targeted disinformation campaigns.
Brigadier Roland Vartok, one of the main speakers at the presentation, emphasized that the times are becoming increasingly uncertain. “A escalation of the war in Ukraine is still not ruled out” he said.
Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner, underlined this assessment, stating, “We are not an island of the blessed.” She emphasized that Austria and Europe must prepare for a wide range of threats to ensure the security of the population.
A central point of the “Risk Image 2025” is the ongoing danger that the war in Ukraine could escalate further. Brigadier Vartok pointed out that the risk of a wider conflict in Europe cannot be ruled out, even if a direct attack on Austria by bombers or conventional forces is considered unlikely. The danger lies not only in physical attacks, but also in the destabilizing effects that such systems can have on the security situation in Europe.
Another major theme of the report is the growing threat of cyberattacks. Vartok highlighted that the number of attacks on critical infrastructure, government networks and private companies is constantly increasing. These attacks aim to achieve a range of objectives, including disrupting systems, manipulating elections, deepening social divisions and eroding trust in democratic institutions.
Additionally, the report highlights the problem of espionage, particularly in the security and defense policy sector, where the goal is to gather information to set targeted hybrid measures – a threat that Vartok warns is not to be underestimated.
The “Risk Image 2025” paints a sobering picture of the international situation. The hope for a stable, rule-based world order, as once formulated in the EU’s Global Strategy of 2015, seems increasingly unrealistic. Instead, the “law of the strong” is experiencing a renaissance.
Overall, the “Risk Image 2025” of the Ministry of Defence is a clear wake-up call, both to the government and to society: “The threats of hybrid warfare, cyberattacks and targeted disinformation are real and require urgent, comprehensive preparations. Europe and Austria are facing the task of adapting their security strategies and investing in the future.