US State Department directs embassies to counter foreign propaganda using X (Twitter) and military units

Consensus Summary

The US State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio issued a March 29 directive instructing all embassies and consulates to launch coordinated campaigns against foreign propaganda, explicitly partnering with the military’s Psychological Operations unit to counter disinformation. The cable singles out Iran, Russia, and China for state-backed influence operations targeting US allies, framing these efforts as direct threats to national security. Notably, the document endorses Elon Musk’s X platform—particularly its Community Notes feature—as a tool to combat anti-American narratives while preserving free speech, despite the EU’s recent €120 million fine for deceptive practices on the platform. The directive also outlines five strategic goals, including amplifying pro-US voices abroad and rebranding US-funded cultural hubs as ‘free speech zones’ to distribute uncensored information. While the move aligns with past US efforts to counter foreign disinformation, it marks a notable shift by explicitly merging public diplomacy with military psychological operations—a collaboration rarely made public. The cable emphasizes the need for locally organic messaging, recruiting influencers and academics to disseminate US narratives, and ensuring aid is visibly attributed to the American government to counter perceived foreign interference.