French Experts Conclude NATO-Funded Disinformation Mission in Estonia, Organized by Skytte Institute

A French delegation of disinformation experts has concluded a successful fact-finding mission in Estonia as part of the NATO-funded project “France and Estonia – Together Against Disinformation” (FREETAD). The mission, held from October 9 to 12, brought together experts from both countries to enhance awareness and foster collaboration on addressing disinformation and hybrid threats, informed by Estonia's cutting-edge experience in this field.

The mission, coordinated by the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, hosted five experts from the University of Bordeaux, Catholic University of Lille, University of Caen Normandy, and Free University of Brussels. The delegation engaged in a series of high-level meetings with Estonian stakeholders, including government officials, academics, cybersecurity professionals, military personnel, and strategic communication experts.

Highlights of the mission included meetings with Marek Kohv (International Centre for Defence and Security), Rainer Saks (CybExer Technologies), Mihkel Tamm (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia), and experts from the Government Office of Estonia’s Strategic Communication Department. These discussions provided the delegation with insights into Estonia's innovative approaches to countering disinformation and safeguarding societal resilience.

On October 10, Ambassador Emmanuel G.F. Mignot of the French Embassy in Estonia hosted the delegation at the French Residence, facilitating dialogue with representatives from media, education, and civil society engaged in combatting disinformation. The discussions underscored the importance of transnational cooperation in addressing this evolving threat and paved the way for future collaboration.

The mission also featured a visit to the Baltic Defence College, where the French delegation engaged in a debate on hybrid interference and disinformation with resident experts and visiting U.S. Congressional staffers. Additionally, at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, the delegation participated in a meeting with in-house specialists addressing various facets of disinformation.

As part of the mission, the delegation also visited the French garrison in Tapa on October 12, where they held discussions with Commander Lt. Col. Pauchet, who shared the unit’s contributions to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) in Estonia. The visit provided the delegation also with a unique opportunity to experience a static display of the unit’s vehicles and capabilities, highlighting the operational readiness and role of the French forces in maintaining security in the region.

Reflecting on the mission’s significance, Dr. Stefano Braghiroli, academic coordinator of the FREETAD project remarked: “This visit mission has strengthened the bond between French and Estonian experts working to combat disinformation. By sharing experiences and best practices, we are laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation in safeguarding our societies against the challenges of modern information warfare. I am deeply grateful to all our partners and stakeholders for their invaluable contributions to the success of this mission.”