The government holds a particular responsibility when it comes to communicating about the country's defence capabilities, Backes said in response to a parliamentary question by Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) MPs Taina Bofferding and Yves Cruchten.
The question was raised following a social media controversy caused by the Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Defence. Building on a social media trend imagining possible designs for the next generation of euro banknotes, the directorate had put forward a proposal featuring AI-generated images of banknotes with tanks and weapons on them. The post drew widespread criticism. It has since been deleted, and the Directorate of Defence has issued an apology.
On the one hand, Backes said, it is important to explain why investing in defence helps to protect Luxembourg's freedoms and values. On the other, weapons and military equipment must not be trivialised. Backes wanted, on that basis, to make clear that her communication in the defence sphere would in no way promote a military culture.
