When information turns into weapon: national immunity against hybrid threats

We now live in a time when wars are no longer fought with guns and artillery, but with information. The battlefields have changed, the weapons have changed, and even the targets have changed — today, what’s under attack is the mind, the values, and the very sense of national identity. If once the borders of countries were drawn on topographic maps, today they are defended on the frontlines of information. In this sense, the information war is not simply a new form of politics; it is the continuation of statehood, the ideological dimension of sovereignty.  

Azerbaijan entered this new era carrying the experience of the 44-day war. We liberated not only our lands but also the truth. The world witnessed how Azerbaijan fought on the battlefield, but few realized that we were also fighting another battle — in the realm of information — against lies, manipulation, and disinformation.

Disinformation today is more than just falsehood — it has become a tool of control. The goal of lies is no longer to persuade but to confuse. Social media, bot networks, fake experts, and fabricated news outlets all serve the same purpose: to sow doubt and erode trust within society. Yet these attempts have failed in Azerbaijan. Why? Because in our country, the state and the people stand together.  

President Ilham Aliyev’s stance in the information struggle lies at the heart of this unity. As he has repeatedly emphasized, conveying Azerbaijan’s just position and defending national interests is not merely a matter of diplomacy — it is a national duty. In every address, he highlights the importance of the information battle, reminding that this fight demands discipline of thought, media literacy, and a sense of civic responsibility from every citizen. It is this approach that has allowed Azerbaijan to achieve sovereignty not only on the ground but also in the information sphere.  

In recent years, Azerbaijan has been actively building this immunity. The state has strengthened its regulatory framework for information security, renewed its national media policy, and invested in developing the professionalism of young journalists. The new Media Law, the Media Development Agency, and strategic communication centers all serve as pillars of information sovereignty.

Who is most vulnerable to hybrid threats? Those who have grown indifferent to their own values. Azerbaijan, however, has preserved its national code. Our strength lies precisely in that code — in our language, our history, and our collective memory. That is why Azerbaijan remains strong in the information war: because the people stand by their state, and the state stands by its people.  

If information has become a weapon, then falsehood is a form of terrorism. And everyone bears responsibility in this fight. Every post, every comment, every opinion can have the impact of a bullet in the information battlefield. Standing with the state today is not merely a political position — it is an act of national defense.  

At a time when ideological chaos is spreading across the world and truth is being overshadowed by manipulation, Azerbaijan has clearly defined its own path — a model that unites national values with modern technology. And we are reinforcing this model not only through military victory but also through triumph in the information sphere.  

Immunity against hybrid threats is built not only with technology, but with national consciousness. It takes intellect to process information, but conscience to protect it.

We must remain strong against hybrid threats and falsehoods at all times…