The Lithuanian military warns that last year there was a significant rise in distrust towards Lithuania and NATO within Belarusian information spaces, impacting national security.
The Lithuanian military has highlighted a troubling rise in hybrid incidents and increased distrust towards Lithuania and NATO in the Belarusian information landscape. According to Colonel L. Bagočiūnas, the intention behind this misinformation campaign is to undermine confidence in Lithuania as a state and portray NATO as disunited and incapable of defending its members. This campaign includes various hybrid threats such as airspace violations and attacks on critical infrastructure, which have surged in recent years.
The military's report indicates that a key aim of this hostility is to weaken societal resilience and the will to resist external threats. A demoralized opponent, according to Bagočiūnas, presents an easier target for adversaries. The use of advanced technological tools such as deepfakes and artificial intelligence by these hostile nations has also been identified as a method to spread confusion and misinformation further.
To combat these challenges, Lithuania emphasizes the importance of vigilance, public awareness, and timely communication regarding disinformation. The military's proactive approach aims not only to debunk falsehoods but also to strengthen the state's capability to discern truth from misinformation, ensuring that the nation remains resilient against external psychological and informational attacks.
