The dialogue program on Strategic Communication held in Berlin from May 11 to May 15, 2025, brought together leading strategic communication experts and senior public authorities officials from Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the initiative aimed to deepen coordination among Eastern European partners in countering hybrid threats emanating from the Russian Federation. The program was designed as a high-level exchange of expertise, involving think tank analysts, policymakers, military officers, and media strategists, all engaged in strengthening the region’s resilience to disinformation, influence operations, and psychological warfare.
Throughout the five-day visit, participants engaged in a robust and interactive agenda that included meetings with top-level representatives of German institutions such as the Federal Foreign Office, the Bundestag, the German Armed Forces, and the Federal Ministry of the Interior. These sessions offered valuable insight into Germany’s strategic communication architecture, inter-agency coordination, and legal frameworks for countering malign foreign information operations. Through these exchanges, the delegation was able to benchmark against Germany’s established StratCom practices while reflecting on challenges shared across Eastern Europe.
Discussions throughout the program were grounded in the national experiences of the participating countries, particularly Moldova, Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria, which served as a dynamic platform for sharing regional expertise. A significant focus was placed on Moldova’s recent advancements in the field of strategic communication, where efforts toward institutionalization and the establishment of dedicated national capacities have accelerated in response to sustained Russian hybrid activities. Moldova, often viewed as a frontline state and a testing ground for Russian influence operations, presented valuable lessons in building strategic resilience and counter-disinformation frameworks that resonated with regional counterparts.
Key themes addressed in the discussions included the institutionalization of strategic communication, crisis response to disinformation campaigns, media literacy, counter-extremism narratives, and state-level deterrence against hostile influence. The program also highlighted the importance of interdepartmental coordination, showcased innovative models, and emphasized the need for agile and transparent communication strategies that reinforce democratic values and public trust.
A distinct feature of the program was its emphasis on cross-sectoral networking. Delegates engaged in policy dialogues with experts from Germany’s leading think tanks including Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS). Informal settings such as shared meals and debriefing sessions fostered candid exchanges and relationship-building, strengthening the potential for sustained collaboration among the region’s strategic communicators and security policy communities. The dialogue reaffirmed the urgency of joint action and peer-learning in the face of common threats, marking an important step toward greater regional coherence and democratic resilience.