An outstanding intern researched hybrid threats at the CMDR COE
Date: (30-03-2026)
The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) continues to provide a valuable environment for research and professional development on some of the most pressing challenges in today’s security landscape, including hybrid threats.
During his recent internship at the Centre, our intern from the Netherlands, Niels Tijssen, conducted research on the topic “Deterring Hybrid Warfare: A Chance for NATO and the EU to Work Together.” The paper, which will be included in the next CMDR COE Proceedings, explores how NATO and the European Union can enhance deterrence against hybrid threats through closer cooperation, with particular focus on strengthening Euro-Atlantic security in the Arctic and building resilience in the space domain.
Niels’ research highlights that, in an increasingly contested security environment, effective deterrence requires more than responding to threats as they emerge. It also depends on anticipating future challenges, denying adversaries opportunities to succeed, and strengthening the resilience of societies and institutions through cooperation.
What made this work particularly valuable was the opportunity to develop it within the unique learning environment of the CMDR COE. Through the Centre’s courses and expertise, I was able to deepen my understanding of NATO’s role in crisis management, resilience, and hybrid threats, and directly apply that knowledge to a topic about which I had previously only limited experience writing. This made the research process both challenging and highly rewarding, shared Niels on his last day at the Centre.
This experience demonstrates the CMDR COE’s ongoing contribution to advancing knowledge, encouraging critical thinking, and enhancing preparedness on issues of increasing importance for Allied security.
All CMDR COE staff wish Niels fair winds and all the best in the next stage of his journey!
News
Collaboration with an universityAgreement with the University of National and World Economy (UNWE).
» read more
Disaster Risk Management Course for the Jordanian Public Security Directorate11-16 June 2023
» read more
Practice of crisis management proceduresA training session took place on June 7, 2023, at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
» read more
Future cooperation between the CMDR COE and the GATE InstituteOn Tuesday 6th of June 2023, the Director of Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE), Prof. Silvia Ilieva...
» read more
Four days of insightful deliberations and exchange among future Gender Focal Points That’s a wrap for the first 2023 iteration of the Gender Focal Point course!
» read more
Cooperation with the Baltic Defence College What is NATO′s crisis management process? How are strategic decisions made?...
» read more
Disaster Response and Consequence Management for a Radiological IncidentA pilot course, 27-28 April 2023
» read more
Autumn 2022 Internship Programme was successfully completedThe CMDR COE Internship Research Paper presentation took place today, April 20th, 2023...
» read more
Football match between the Military Attaché Corps in Bulgaria and the CMDR COEA friendly football match between a team consisting of CMDR COE representatives and...
» read more
Join discussions on transformative approaches to crisis management and disaster responseRegister for the 2023 CMDR COE Annual Conference
» read more
CMDR COE representatives in Doha, QatarAnnual Military Strategic Partnership Conference 2023 , 13 March — 17 March 2023, in Doha, Qatar
» read more
CMDR COE Director′s visit in Serbia, 02-03 March 2023CMDR COE Director paid a two-day working visit to Belgrade, Serbia.
» read more
CMDR COE Mobile Education and Training Team (METT) to JordanCrisis management and Disaster Response course conducted in the Royal Police Academy in Amman, Jordan
» read more
