Strategic communication and political leadership

Strategic communication is essential today, for the state and for every public administration institution, to guide the actions and decisions of its citizens. Public communication should be shaped by stories and their interpretation, allowing citizens to form emotional images of a given subject. Competence-based leadership is becoming important in the context of implementing a comprehensive national defence system. It is important to involve community leaders in the information campaign on the introduction of a comprehensive national defence system to explain its importance and necessity.

The idea of national continuity, that Latvia has existed and will continue to exist in the future, should be reinforced in national communication and public events. Continuity, as part of national defence, consists of people's belief in the processes, participation in public events, preservation of cultural and historical traditions and their public enhancement. National continuity is also shaped by state communication in times of crisis and possible loss of state power. In the event of a loss of sovereignty due to foreign influence, it is essential to maintain channels of communication with the international community and the population of Latvia, thus increasing confidence in the continued existence of the state.

The NATO Centre of Excellence for Strategic Communications (Stratcom COE) is established in 2014 and accredited as an international military organisation on 1 September of the same year. The idea of the Centre was based on the Latvian Government's belief that our country can contribute more to the NATO Alliance not only by participating in military operations, but also by using Latvia's intellectual potential.

NATO Strategic Communication is the coordinated and context-appropriate use of NATO communication activities and capabilities in support of Alliance policies, operations and activities to further NATO objectives. These activities and capabilities are:

• Public diplomacy

NATO civilian communications and activities to inform and raise awareness of NATO policies, operations and activities, complementing the activities of NATO Allies at the national level

• Public relations

NATO civilian communication through the media to inform the public in a timely, accurate, comprehensive and proactive manner about Alliance policies, operations and activities;

• Military public relations

Promotion of NATO's military objectives to audiences to enhance public understanding of the military aspects of the Alliance;

• Information operations

Coordination of military advice and military information activities by NATO in support of Alliance operations, missions and objectives to achieve the desired outcome against the will, understanding and capabilities of hostile parties as well as other parties identified by the North Atlantic Council;

• Psychological operations

Planned psychological activities that use communication techniques and other means with specific, pre-arranged audiences to influence their perceptions, attitudes and behaviour, which in turn influence the achievement of political and military objectives.

More information is available at www.stratcomcoe.org