Home  /  BALTIC AMBER Magazine  /  SHAPING THE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION

Information has always been used to gain advantage over an opponent. Political and military leaders knew this principle already years ago. The major difference between then and now is that currently we live in an environment dominated by big data, where information cannot be entirely processed and consumed. Although the cognitive dimension has always been crucial, the revolution in information technology and resources required NATO to adopt a comprehensive and more systematic approach. Maintaining credibility and cohesion, avoiding ‘say–do’ gaps, seeking integration between words and deeds and going beyond traditional media and non-kinetic approaches entail proper coordination and synchronization of communications efforts with all military activities.

Today, without flexibility and adaptation, we will not be able to achieve information superiority and – furthermore – an advantage on the battlefield. In our profession, the centre of gravity has always been people, their reasoning, decision-making processes, perception and willingness either to support NATO’s aims or to restrain themselves from hostile actions against the Alliance. We all contribute to messaging through our words, deeds and actions or lack of thereof. Thus, it is critical to understand that everything we do and say will always have an impact on missions and operations we are involved in.

Although the Strategic Communications concept was devised on the basis of the 2009 NATO Policy in order to structure ongoing processes and build a proper mindset at the leadership level, further steps were required. As we all know, “one cannot not communicate”, and every behaviour is a form of communication. Therefore, when MC 0628 NATO Military Policy on Strategic Communications was endorsed in 2017 and fully implemented, Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) became part of the NATO Force Structure adaptation process.

During the NATO Warsaw Summit, the Allied Heads of State and Government agreed to enhance NATO’s forward presence in the east and southeast in response to the increased instability and insecurity along NATO’s borders. This decision resulted in the establishment of four multinational battalion-size battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The battlegroups, led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the United States respectively, have become robust and combat-ready forces. Due to its unique location and the geopolitical situation, Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast was made the Regional Land Component Command in the Baltic Sea Region, together with a division-level headquarters and other units designated for operations in the region. Needless to say, the exercise of command and control over subordinate forces requires adequate capacities and capabilities in order to fully understand the information environment – where cognitive, virtual and physical dimensions overlap constantly – to plan and execute actions on the ground and to assess the effectiveness and achievement of desired effects. That being the case, the Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) Division was created as part of MNC NE Headquarters and directly subordinated to the Chief of Staff. The Communications Director, Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) STRATCOM, is part of the Command Group.

As we are all aware, at the tactical level actions speak louder than words, thus not only communicators, but every military activity is integral to NATO’s broader communications strategy. In order to achieve cohesion and unity of effort in the Baltic Sea Region, STRATCOM is therefore part of every working group, conference, seminar and coordination meeting held at the Corps’ Headquarters. As the Communications Director, I have overall responsibility to advise and assist the HQ MNC NE Command Group so that all military actions go together with communications efforts and are aligned with the higher headquarters’ STRATCOM framework and implementation guidance. Leading Strategic Communications on NATO’s eastern flank requires the proper tools and mindset, especially since MNC NE STRATCOM Division is a hub between the Headquarters, subordinate units and host nations’ defence forces in the region.

All activities conducted across the Alliance’s northeast are planned with consideration for effects in and on the information environment.

The STRATCOM Steering Group is a platform for communicators to discuss currently circulating narratives, to coordinate and synchronize communications and information activities – which are important from the regional perspective – and to familiarize all staff with changes to the Alliance’s communications strategy. In many respects, our general officers, commanders and the regional leadership are also part of messaging. Their engagements contribute significantly to the overall NATO posture in the region. Consequently, interactions between the key leaders from MNC NE’s area of operations and the respective decision-makers are talked over and coordinated within the steering group.

A message for everybody is a message for no-one. To be effective in communications, we need to understand our intended audiences, the channels they use and their current needs and expectations. Situational awareness and knowledge about individuals or a group of people with whom we plan to communicate is provided by the Knowledge, Development and Assessment (KDA) Branch – the analytical part of the STRATCOM Division. The branch conducts research and gathers all information useful from the regional point of view. They analyze the narrative trends emerging in Poland, the Baltic States and beyond our region.

Based on the KDA analysis, the STRATCOM Division’s Plans Branch conducts current, mid- and long-term planning, alongside the coordination and synchronization of all communications efforts in the Baltic Region. The branch encompasses various areas of expertise which are aligned with the STRATCOM Policy. Despite some limitations in peacetime, the Headquarters is ready and able to plan activities which lead to the achievement of tactical military objectives and contribute to the overall effect at the operational and strategic levels. All areas of expertise are taken into consideration – from psychological operations, military public affairs, through electronic warfare and cyber to the targeting process. Additionally, the branch is involved in the exercise planning processes – a vital element of the military activities on the eastern flank, where the presence, posture and profile of NATO’s troops play a decisive role.

Third part of the STRATCOM Division is the Public Affairs Office (PAO) Branch, responsible for media operations. As shaping the information environment is so important, all products and content have to reflect a thorough understanding of audiences and their needs and be delivered through proper channels. Obviously, a good relationship with journalists is still essential for the Public Affairs staff. However, given that social media has become such a large part of our life, the Corps’ Headquarters could not operate in this day and age without being present online. MNC NE’s digital engagement plays a unique role in the communication with audiences in the Baltic Sea Region. We are active on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, along with the MNC NE website. The PAO team focuses mainly on providing up-to-date information about the Corps’ activities, as well as its capabilities, the readiness culture on the NATO’s eastern flank and individual soldiers who are our strength and the most valuable asset.

As already mentioned, for NATO communications our leaders’ involvement is crucial. The fourth branch in the STRATCOM Division is responsible for the planning of HQ MNC NE Key Leaders Engagement (KLE). Leaders’ engagements not only convey a specific message. They also help achieve the objectives which lie ahead of the Headquarters and – by extension – the Alliance as a whole. Meeting with decision-makers across MNC NE’s area of operations always offers an excellent opportunity to work together with Allies on the unity of effort to enhance the cohesion and maintain good relationships on NATO’s eastern flank.

Moving back to the very core, Strategic Communications is all about aligning words and deeds. The NATO 2022 Strategic Concept adopted by the Heads of State and Governments in Madrid has demonstrated our cohesion and readiness to adapt to the current challenges in the strategic environment. Crucial both for the effective deterrence and defence of the Allied territory, NATO’s new military thinking is essential to tackle threats our countries might meet. Many of them are depicted in the document, however “the Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area”. Russia uses conventional, cyber and hybrid means to pursue its political goals and undermine the rules-based international order. Due to their geostrategic location, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland – NATO’s eastern flank nations – experience hostile rhetoric in the form of the official Kremlin’s narratives on a daily basis. All the more so, being NATO’s communicators in the Baltic Sea Region, we are responsible for the implementation of the Alliance’s political guidance, where military capabilities, transparency, and readiness to deter and defend are key. We are ready today, prepared for tomorrow and adapting for the future.