ABSTRACT
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a multinational political-military organization created in 1949 to safeguard peace and security in the transatlantic area. As the security environment and challenges changed over the decades, NATO adapted its public diplomacy and communication functions accordingly. The chapter describes the evolution of NATO’s public diplomacy and communication efforts since its inception and focuses on three important decades since the end of the Cold War. It also describes the structure and procedures of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and describes the various functions that it plays today. The chapter provides insights into current challenges faced by NATO and its Allies in era of disinformation and propaganda and their joint response – by enabling cooperation between NATO and the European Union, strengthening coordination between individual member and partner nations and creating Centers of Excellence on Strategic Communication and Hybrid Warfare. NATO has also adapted to new technologies and follows new trends in communication and public diplomacy. Its digital presence is now enabled through diverse social media platforms and dedicated TV Channel. It explored new approaches to integrated communication by adopting the UK Government Communication approach through campaigns and developed its measurement and evaluation program. Strategic communication became an important function in supporting coordination amongst NATO communication and political stakeholders. NATO has entered the 21st century well equipped and prepared.
