Action on Disinformation in NATO Strategic Communications

Abstract

After Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2014, countering hybrid warfare, including the response to Russia’s hostile information and disinformation operations, has become the main driver of NATO’s strategic communications capability development. NATO’ engagement to counter disinformation is put into effect through defensive and offensive communication activities as well as through cooperation with partners. In defending the populations of allied nations against disinformation, national-level measures take priority, and NATO’s information and communication activities play only a secondary role. However, transposing and adapting NATO’s strategic communications principles and practices at national level would allow for the establishment of a framework for a national military strategic communications capability, including an anti-disinformation capability. This opportunity is available to the Hungarian Defence Forces, and it is rendered particularly important by the fact that Hungary’s National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy both envisage the development of national strategic communications capabilities.