This research forms part of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence´s ongoing effort, begun in 2016, to understand malign foreign influence in the Nordic-Baltic region (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden – the NB8). Its core objective has been to map the capabilities of the Nordic-Baltic countries and to compare their approaches to countering information influence.
The Nordic-Baltic region shares centuries of historic trade and socio-cultural ties. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, NordicBaltic cooperation was renewed; initially as ‘5 + 3’ but later as ‘8’, reflecting a group of nations united not only by geography but by liberal democratic values and similar aspirations and challenges.
Fifteen years ago, the need for such research might have seemed less pressing or even unreasonable. The world and the region were very different back then. There was less consensus on what to expect from the threat actors, and less awareness of hybrid methods of ‘below the threshold’ influence and how open societies could be manipulated by those seeking to undermine them. But now, as this document demonstrates, there is a great degree of similarity in how Nordic-Baltic societies and governments perceive these threats and their role in safeguarding national and regional security. The countries share common values, governance principles, and threat assessments. Their collective ability to act and share information has been furthered by Finland’s and Sweden’s decision to join NATO.
As we look ahead, challenges to our information environments will most likely intensify amid ongoing geopolitical turbulence. Manipulation will become more sophisticated through emerging technologies. And we already see that information influence is often paired with other hostile actions such as cyberattacks, physical sabotage, and disruption of critical infrastructure. Our agility, flexibility, and commitment to cooperate will remain vital.
