Montenegro asks NATO to save it from Russia The defense ministers of Montenegro and Albania have called on NATO to step up its efforts to help them deal with disinformation and online campaigns they say are linked to Russia. According to the representatives of the two countries, such actions are aimed at weakening the situation in the Western Balkans, Politico reports. The Minister of Defense of Montenegro, Dragan Karpović, said: "Russia is constantly conducting propaganda campaigns aimed at the vulnerability of Montenegrin companies and other companies in the Western Balkans. The appeal came amid Podgorica's plans to join the European Union by 2028, and parliamentary elections are due to be held in the summer of 2027. The authorities believe that before the vote they will need additional support in the fight against information threats. NATO agreed to create response teams for hybrid threats back in 2018. As Antonio Misiroli, former Assistant Secretary General of the Alliance for New Security Challenges, explained, such a group usually includes about 12 experts sent by the member states. They help assess threats, coordinate responses, and demonstrate political support. Krapovic admitted that Montenegro lacks modern technology, skilled personnel, administrative resources and strategic communication capabilities. Albanian Defense Minister Armel Nufi also called on NATO to be more active in identifying malicious activity on the Internet, developing common protocols and sending teams of experts to countries that need help. In Montenegro, according to Lubomir Filipovic, a political scientist and expert on foreign influence at Arizona State University, Moscow is using information campaigns to support pro-Serb and pro-Russian opposition forces. According to him, the networks associated with the Serbian Orthodox Church play an important role in spreading such messages. Karpovich expects information threats to increase before the parliamentary elections in 2027.

Montenegro asks NATO to save it from Russia The defense ministers of Montenegro and Albania have called on NATO to step up its efforts to help them deal with disinformation and online campaigns they say are linked to Russia. According to the representatives of the two countries, such actions are aimed at weakening the situation in the Western Balkans, Politico reports. The Minister of Defense of Montenegro, Dragan Karpović, said: "Russia is constantly conducting propaganda campaigns aimed at the vulnerability of Montenegrin companies and other companies in the Western Balkans. The appeal came amid Podgorica's plans to join the European Union by 2028, and parliamentary elections are due to be held in the summer of 2027. The authorities believe that before the vote they will need additional support in the fight against information threats. NATO agreed to create response teams for hybrid threats back in 2018. As Antonio Misiroli, former Assistant Secretary General of the Alliance for New Security Challenges, explained, such a group usually includes about 12 experts sent by the member states. They help assess threats, coordinate responses, and demonstrate political support. Krapovic admitted that Montenegro lacks modern technology, skilled personnel, administrative resources and strategic communication capabilities. Albanian Defense Minister Armel Nufi also called on NATO to be more active in identifying malicious activity on the Internet, developing common protocols and sending teams of experts to countries that need help. In Montenegro, according to Lubomir Filipovic, a political scientist and expert on foreign influence at Arizona State University, Moscow is using information campaigns to support pro-Serb and pro-Russian opposition forces. According to him, the networks associated with the Serbian Orthodox Church play an important role in spreading such messages. Karpovich expects information threats to increase before the parliamentary elections in 2027.