The 2nd Information Seminar of the Ministry of National Defence entitled: “Applied and Holistic Management of Hybrid Threats and Crises”, organised by the General Directorate of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, as part of its activities, continues with the completion of the third cycle which focused on the Cognitive Environment of hybrid warfare.
The third cycle of that Seminar was completed on 28 May 2022, with proceedings starting on 26 May 2022. During the 3rd cycle a study of hybrid threats/crises was carried out and threats’ impact on Cognitive Environment was studied. In particular, issues of Strategic Communication, Information and Psychological Operations, the role of the media in a crisis or armed conflict, as well as the risk of disinformation on national issues, were analysed.
Furthermore, reference was made to tools and practices used, such as information from human sources, and analysis on how to influence selected audiences, while the psychological dimensions of security crisis management by civilian and military leadership were studied. In this context, a case study was presented for the redefinition of the battlefield from the physical to the information environment, while the analysis of the relationship between cultural patterns and dominant rhetoric in hybrid warfare was of particular interest.
Hybrid threats/crises have decisive effects on the dimension of Cognitive Environment, as alongside actions on the battle field, another “fight” also takes place to control the perception and thinking of those directly or indirectly involved in a hybrid threat/crisis. The holistic response to hybrid threats and crises requires an understanding of this reality, in order to protect the country’s most valuable factor and power multiplier, namely, the human resources. The next cycle will take place on 02-03 June 2022, where practical training will be performed on a hybrid threat/crisis simulation scenario to draw conclusions and exchange views and experiences between participants.
