Panel 6: The Cognitive Frontline: Strategic Communication and Defense Against Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI)

In the 21st century, conflict is no longer waged solely on physical battlefields. Today, the human mind is a primary terrain of strategic competition. From disinformation campaigns and conspiracy amplification to deepfakes and targeted manipulation, FIMI has become one of the most insidious and destabilizing forms of hybrid aggression.

By recognizing the cognitive dimension of national security, this panel emphasizes the importance of proactive communication ecosystems that can sustain public trust and societal coherence, even in the face of sustained narrative warfare. It addresses the critical role of strategic communication and cognitive resilience in defending democratic societies against FIMI. It explores how disinformation campaigns target societal trust, fracture national cohesion, and weaken democratic institutions, and how these threats can be countered without undermining the openness and pluralism that define them. 

Panelists will examine:

• The mechanisms and objectives behind foreign information operations in Armenia and partner countries

• Tools for early detection, attribution, and coordinated response across government, media, and civil society

• Best practices in strategic communication, narrative resilience, and digital literacy for citizens and communities

• The ethical balancing act between security needs and democratic freedoms.