Dr. Skye Cooley delivered an invited lecture at UPAEP's Global Summer program in Puebla, Mexico, on Russian gray zone warfare and the role of strategic communication in modern conflict. Drawing on MESA's ongoing research analyzing foreign media narratives for U.S. defense and homeland security partners, the talk traced how the Kremlin built its information apparatus over the past two decades and outlined the core tactics of contemporary gray zone operations, including coordinated inauthentic behavior, narrative inversion, and the "firehose of falsehood."

The lecture placed particular emphasis on Latin America and Mexico, examining the reach of Russian state media in the region and the dynamics that make Spanish-language audiences a target for foreign information operations. Dr. Cooley closed with lessons drawn from Ukraine's communication strategy since 2022, arguing that media literacy and locally led counter-disinformation efforts are essential components of national resilience. The talk reflects MESA's broader mission of applying narrative and media analysis to questions of strategic security.