Cognitive Warfare 2026: NATO’s Chief Scientist Report as Sentinel Call for Operational Readiness

Cognitive Warfare 2026: NATO’s Chief Scientist Report as Sentinel Call for Operational Readiness

Description

This Strategic Insights article examines NATO’s Chief Scientist’s Cognitive Warfare 2026 report as a sentinel warning for allied governments and defense institutions. It analyzes how cognitive warfare—targeting perception, decision-making, and societal cohesion—has emerged as a core domain of competition in the contemporary security environment. The article outlines the report’s key findings, including the weaponization of information ecosystems, advances in artificial intelligence and neurotechnology, and the blurring of civil-military boundaries. It argues that cognitive warfare demands a whole-of-society response, integrating defense, technological innovation, resilience-building, and ethical safeguards. By framing cognitive operations as both an operational and strategic challenge, the article calls for enhanced preparedness, interagency coordination, and doctrinal adaptation to ensure NATO and its partners remain resilient in an era where influence over minds is as consequential as control over territory.

Document Type

Article

Topic(s)

Information Operations, NATO, Strategic Competition

Publication Date

1-6-2026

Keywords

Cognitive warfare, NATO, information operations, hybrid warfare, strategic competition, artificial intelligence, resilience, operational readiness, defense strategy, security studies

Cognitive Warfare 2026: NATO’s Chief Scientist Report as Sentinel Call for Operational Readiness

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