1. Not only are their daily insults “embellished” with anthropological (racist) characteristics against Greece. Erdogan’s Turkey lacks arguments. However, it is frivolous to think that propaganda based on lies and deceit does not harm us. As I write this text, a Google search for “Greek S-300s blocking Turkish aircraft” yields over 5,800,000 results. Greece, Ankara’s target, our partners in the European Union, as well as Washington – the S-400 is directly related to it – do not seem ready to respond with the same means. The Greek refutations, in particular, are based on truth, but seem standardized to third parties. Decency and self-respect are interpreted as a sign of weakness. Lies try to conquer even momentary impressions. It is not new to find that Ankara’s leaders have learned and planted disinformation and propaganda. Since the time of Herodotus and Thucydides, deceit has been a widely used tool in politics, diplomacy, psychological operations, and warfare. This is often effective. It cannot be dealt with only with the help of classical rules and formal mechanisms and means of communication and public diplomacy.

2. Thoughts-suggestions:

A. Despite the experience we had to gain from the successive crises and destabilization attempts of March-August 2020, we are still lagging behind in the automated mechanisms for creating and using accounts to display our positions on Twitter and in general on modern social media. The active accounts of the prime minister, foreign and defense ministers, other government officials, and the head of GEETHA cannot be challenged by named or anonymous commentators and professional skeptics, deniers and often abusers.

B. In addition, we are no more than ten or twelve well-known people who regularly tweet in English, promoting the interests and positions of Greece. Our national positions. But when you get offensive comments from targeted named or anonymous people – mostly of Turkish origin – you either delete them – a practice I follow – or don’t continue for reasons of self-defense and self-respect. A practice that we also follow, but not the most effective.

C. There is an urgent need to establish a systemic communications “war room” with artificial (virtual) branches in several countries to process in English various accounts of projection, relaying, aggressively promoting our positions and constantly refuting negative comments. After all, the “war room” is proposed and created by the big lobbying and public relations companies on K Street in Washington. Thus, proportion and symmetry in the communicative war of substance and impression.

D. I observe with what spontaneity and ease daily accounts are created that promote party positions and denigrate – to put it mildly – political opponents. It is not difficult to do something similar at the national level to project our positions and counter the anonymous and named Turkish – and not only – propaganda disinformation and deception. We have untapped knowledge and mental faculties.

Politeness is interpreted as a sign of weakness. The creation of a system communication “war room” is topical.

3. In the field of information services, it suffices to note that during this period, nothing and no indication, movement or information should be evaluated as data, ordinary or routine. Turkey is waging an all-out communication attack of disinformation. Its targets are international public opinion, the media and governments, as well as the Turkish people. We are perilously close, in my estimation, to the completion of a “stage” by the Turkish parastatal state structure component and subservient media to implement if they deem Erdogan’s form of Sledgehammer (planned episode and fault on Greece) to be needed.

4. Finally, let the bodies responsible for public diplomacy and communication now focus their attention and actions exclusively on priority issues. To use the experienced human resources that we have. During a communications storm at the expense of our national interests, we cannot afford to ignore or not hire valuable and trusted executives in empty offices.

* Mr. Alexandros P. Mallias is the former Greek Ambassador to Washington.