Speaking at the annual Riga Conference on Thursday (6 May 2021), NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană stressed the importance of strategic communications to help build resilience among Allied societies faced with increased hybrid activities, including disinformation. “Such hostile activities seek to undermine our democracies, our institutions, our shared values, on which our Alliance is founded”, he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided fertile ground for increased hybrid activities, but NATO has been able to adapt and continue to defend its one billion population.
Looking ahead, close cooperation with like-minded partners across the globe and a whole of society approach will be essential to continue to protect democratic societies against current security threats. NATO’s 2030 initiative, Mr. Geoană stressed, also sets an ambitious agenda for enhanced transatlantic security and defence in such an uncertain world.
The event, held online on 6 and 7 May 2021, was organized by NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.