The United States has instructed all its embassies and consulates worldwide to launch coordinated campaigns to counter what it classifies as hostile foreign propaganda, and is encouraging the use of Elon Musk’s X platform as an “innovative” tool in this process, according to an official document obtained by the British newspaper The Guardian . The directive, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, details broad actions to contain disinformation and reinforce the American narrative abroad.
The document also recommends that diplomatic missions partner with the United States’ military psychological operations unit, known as Military Information Support Operations (MISO), which is linked to the Pentagon. This initiative comes amid geopolitical tensions involving countries such as Iran, Russia, and China, which, according to the US government, maintain sophisticated strategies of influence and disinformation directed at US allies.
The plan establishes five main objectives: to combat messages considered hostile, to broaden access to information, to expose the actions of adversaries, to promote local voices aligned with American interests, and to strengthen the official narrative of the United States on the international stage. To this end, embassies are instructed to recruit influencers, academics, and community leaders in different countries, with the goal of disseminating content that reinforces the American position in a more organic way.
The document states that foreign campaigns seek to “shift blame to the United States, sow division among allies, promote alternative worldviews contrary to American interests, and even harm U.S. economic interests and political freedoms.” The text further states that these actions utilize digital platforms, government-controlled media, and influence operations, representing “a direct threat to U.S. national security and fueling hostility against its interests.”
Another relevant point of the guideline is the explicit recommendation that diplomatic missions coordinate their actions with the military’s psychological operations sector—a practice considered unusual in traditional diplomacy, which historically maintains a certain separation between civilian and military strategies.
The initiative comes after recent changes in the U.S. structure for combating disinformation. The Global Engagement Center , responsible for funding such actions in previous administrations, lost resources shortly before Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. In addition, the FBI ended its task force dedicated to foreign influence, and the State Department deactivated a unit focused on monitoring international information manipulation.
The document also highlights the X platform, especially the Community Notes feature, as an effective and “collaborative” tool to combat misinformation “without compromising freedom of expression or privacy.” This mention comes amid international criticism of the social network, which has already been fined €120 million by the European Union for practices considered deceptive and remains under investigation for its algorithms and artificial intelligence tools.
Another aspect emphasized is the need to make the origin of US foreign aid visible. The text advises that US-funded programs and initiatives use “prominent flag marking,” ensuring that the local public clearly identifies the source of the support.
Embassies were also instructed to expand the distribution of international news and independent analysis translated into local languages, especially in countries where “anti-American propaganda is widespread or where access to information is restricted.” In this context, more than 700 cultural centers known as “ American Spaces ” are to be repositioned as platforms for access to uncensored information, promoted as zones of freedom of expression.
Source: brasil247.com