well as Nordic consultation and, in particular, cooperation between Finland and Sweden are intensifying. Social instability in Europe’s neighbourhood and conflicts in North Africa , the Middle East and Eastern Europe have altered the security of our continent where Finland, too, as a part of the European Union advances its interests and international goals. The phenomena affecting the security situation in Europe also include organised crime, facilitation of illegal entry , cyber-crime, information operations and terrorism. There are features associated with the deterioration of European security which can be described as hybrid activities. Hybrid influencing is generally understood to mean deliberate action where a state or a non-state actor can simultaneously utilise different kinds of military means or, for example, economic or technology-based instruments of pressure as well as information operations and social media. The goal is to have an impact on the Achilles’ heel of the targeted state and to achieve one’s own objectives. Finland, too, is a target of means which are included in hybrid influencing. 4.3 States and other international actors States, and the economic, political or security coalitions they form, are still the most important global actors. The strongest and most influential among state actors as well as our geographically closest neighbours are among the most important state actors for Finland. The use of force or an increased risk thereof, a fragile or failed government, widespread violations of human and basic rights or large disasters accentuate the importance of even more distant regions or states to Finland. In addition to the United States, China and Russia as well as the European Union are competing for global power and status, while many other countries are trying to achieve regional dominance. Every state’s foreign and security policy strategies and goals are based on its internal situation, self-image and analysis of the surrounding world as well as threats and prospects that arise from it. The state’s political system influences the manner by which it sculpts its internal goals and its economic, cultural and other resources into foreign policy goals. Russia’s leadership aim to strengthen a superpower status for their country. On the whole they perceive international relations a geopolitical zero-sum game. Their view is that the West has largely ignored Russia’s considerations and 13