Held in Lisbon under the theme “Turning the Tide”, this two-day workshop explored hybrid warfare at sea through expert lectures, scenario-based discussions, and practical exchanges.
The first day examined the strategic and operational dimensions of hybrid threats, including grey-zone operations, deterrence, and crisis scenarios.
On the second day, BlueRights contributed a dedicated human rights perspective, focusing on merchant vessels, shadow fleets, critical underwater infrastructure, and the protection of seafarers and civilians. The workshop highlighted the importance of legal clarity and human rights safeguards in times of geopolitical uncertainty.
Summary of the key findings:
The BlueRights morning highlighted that “hybrid warfare” must not become a shortcut for legal ambiguity.
Anna Petrig’s introduction framed the central issue: most hybrid threats at sea remain below the threshold of armed conflict, meaning maritime law enforcement and human rights law will often apply.
The following presentations showed why this distinction matters in practice. Attacks on merchant vessels reveal serious risks to civilian seafarers’ right to life, especially where neutral vessels are treated as military or war-sustaining objects. Discussions on shadow fleets and high-seas interdiction underlined that freedom of navigation, neutrality, due process, and the right to liberty require clear legal bases for boarding, detention, and criminal jurisdiction. The protection of critical underwater infrastructure raised similar concerns, exposing enforcement gaps in the EEZ and high seas.
Across the session, one message stood out: security responses at sea must remain legally precise, human-rights compliant, and resistant to overreach.