Global system rivalry and the efforts of some leading actors to reshape the global order are leading to the increasing use of covert means below the threshold of conventional war or a state of defense or alliance. These unconventional, irregular or non-restrictive warfare are not completely new, but are reaching a higher level of vulnerability due to increasing interconnectedness. Hybrid threats include cyber attacks, sabotage, information campaigns, espionage, malicious activities in outer space, and the use of economic and political measures, such as blockades in the UN Security Council2. These hybrid attacks often target civilian actors, which requires increased civilian resilience and cooperation with the military. Since the military has practically no means of action in the civilian sector, it would have to rely on effective civilian defense and critical contributions from civil society, such as the provision of the rail network and the supply of fuel, for overall defense3.
On the other hand, the support of the military forces is also needed in crises such as pandemics and natural disasters such as floods. The Bundeswehr has the personnel and heavy equipment needed in such cases and can deploy them relatively quickly. These points illustrate the dependencies between civil security and defense actors and the need for increased civil-military cooperation to address modern challenges and strengthen overall national resilience.