Defense Strategies of NATO and the EU against Russian ‘Hybrid Warfare’ in the Baltic Sea Region

International relations are subject to an ever-changing security environment, with new challenges being assessed daily. The two most prominent international institutions regarded with securing the safety and future of European life exist in the forms of the North Atlantic Treaty Council (NATO) and the European Union (EU); however, contemporary issues in international relations seek to challenge the integrity of these coalitions. The latest change to the security environment is harbored in the complexity and ambiguity of hybrid warfare, implemented most notably by the Russian Federation. This research is dedicated to comparing the narrative approach, decision-making structures, and policy outcomes of NATO and the EU towards forming their counter-hybrid strategy in the Baltic region. Keywords: hybrid warfare, counter-hybrid strategy, NATO, EU, institution, decision making, Russia, defense strategy.