Connections

Transparent and accountable, efficient and effective Defense Institution Build­ing (DIB) is one of the shared values that binds together NATO and Partners, an essential part of defense management and reform. This special DIB issue of Connections brings contributions on NATO's approach to DIB as a Whole-of-Government tool for projecting stability and countering hybrid threats, the rise of defense institution and capacity build­ing in the US as a premier DOD discipline, and the need to invest in strategic communication, with account of specific cultures, to counter propaganda and disinformation. Another article examines the DIB experience in the Baltics and its applicability in Georgia and Ukraine. The final three articles deal entirely with the DIB experience in Ukraine, identifying success stories and disappointments not only on the Ukrainian side, but also in the way foreign DIB and related assistance is provided.