Anne Furman, Michael Posey
Russia seeks to undermine American values and interests using malign influence operations. As an example, the United States military should buttress servicemembers’ resilience through education. By educating through engaging discussions, enhancing digital literacy, and employing well-crafted nudging, the U.S. military can improve the Joint Force’s understanding of how Russia operates across its competition continuum and how to recognize and develop defenses against Russian propaganda, ultimately resulting in a resistant and resilient force.
Lessons from Russian Influence Operations in Romania
Romania’s beauty astonishes visitors, but its history is even more astonishing. Romania transformed from a Warsaw Pact member to a NATO ally and functioning democracy, demonstrating resilience in the face of geopolitical pressures. Sharing a 381-mile border with Ukraine makes this scenic country a vital corridor for Western military aid, particularly since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Romania’s importance to the NATO Alliance continues to grow with the construction of NATO’s largest base, solidifying its role as a key regional player.
In late 2024, Russia sought to exploit vulnerabilities in Romania’s democracy by orchestrating a massive influence operation during its elections. Utilizing platforms like TikTok, Russian operatives activated dormant accounts and deployed bots to manipulate public opinion, successfully skyrocketing the popularity of a pro-Russian candidate, Calin Georgescu. Russian operations to multiply these fabrications included covert funding, misinformation, and violations of Romanian campaign laws. These influence operations affected the Romanian election, which the Romanian government annulled. Nearly successful, this influence campaign demonstrated Russia’s ability to exploit social media, one of its preferred tools for cyber-enabled influence operations. Romania’s decision to expose the operation provides a playbook for other democracies under similar threats.
Social Media as a Force Multiplier in Influence Operations
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