About us
The NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (NATO StratCom COE) is a multinational and NATO-accredited international Organization. Centre’s mission is to contribute to the Alliance’s communication processes by providing comprehensive analysis, timely advice, and practical support. Besides research studies and training for governments on strategic communication, the NATO StratCom COE has been developing significant expertise on countering hostile information activities by state and non-state actors.
The NATO StratCom COE was initially founded by Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Canada joined at a later stage. Additionally, France and Slovakia are finalising their joining procedures.
Steering Committee
Steering Committee is set up by the Sponsoring Nation as the main body for guidance, oversight and decisions on all matters concerning the administration, policies and operation of the NATO StratCom COE. Steering Committee is responsible for the direction, guidance and supervision of the NATO StratCom COE. It approves the Program of Work and the operational budget, as well as supervises its execution. The Steering Committee consists of one voting representative from each participant country. In order to avoid conflict of interests, a member of the NATO StratCom COE cannot be representative of a Participant country in the Steering Committee.
The Chairman of the Steering Committee is from Latvia. The Steering Committee was chaired by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Jānis Sārts for more than a year until he became the Director of the NATO StratCom COE on 1st September, 2015. Now the Steering Comittee is chaired by Kaspars Galkins, Director of the Military Public Affairs Department of the Republic of Latvia.
Steering Committee meets twice a year.
Mr Kaspars Galkins, Steering Committee Chairman