SHASH Report: Western Balkans exposed to threats

In terms of security in the region, the report points out that third political actors are aimed at destabilising regional security, through violation of social and ethnic cohesion, instrumentising nationalist factors in the region, using propaganda and dezinformation, or boosting evil influence.

The region remains exposed to threats and challenges, both due to internal factors, socio-economic problems, interethnic and interreligious tensions, corruption, organised crime and the influence of foreign actors, interested in keeping it unchanged or in escalating the security and political situation in the region, according to SISH.

As for foreign intelligence in the region, non-friendly intelligence services have focused activity on amplification of interethnic and interreligious problems, promotion and support of destabilising internal destabilising factors, on preserving status-quio in relation to integration processes and taking advantage of its role in relation to the West.

PJ E FROM SHUBLES 2021

Security situation in region

Albania has supported and continues to support any international efforts in favour of regional and global peace and security. Moreover, our country follows a regional constructive policy based on the principles of co-operation, towards Euro-Atlantic integration processes, good neighbourliness and respect for minority rights.

However, Albania's being part of the NATO Alliance, the clear pro-Western positioning, the active role it plays in the region and wider, has turned into a goal of foreign policy of third actors, aimed at destabilising regional security, through the violation of social and ethnic cohesion, the instrumentisation of nationalist factors in the region, the use of propaganda and dezinformisation, boosting the influence on the mountain, etc.
The security environment in the Western Balkans follows to be characterised by fragile domestic political developments, which show that the region remains exposed to threats and challenges, both due to internal factors (Social problems, interethnic and inter-religious tensions, corruption, organised crime), as well as the influence of foreign actors interested in keeping it unchanged or escalating the security and political situation in the region.

Foreign Intelligence in the Region

As a NATO member, contributing to global peace and security, but also aspiring to becoming part of the large European family, Albania continues to remain the focus of some foreign intelligence services.
At the centre of their information collection activity continue to remain internal developments in the political and security arena, our country's pro-Western positioning in relation to policies in international relations, relations with countries of the region and strategic allies, military exercises within the Alliance and projects in the field of defence.

In other countries of the region, non-friendly intelligence services have focused activity on amplification of interethnic and interreligious problems, promotion and support of destabilising internal destabilising factors, on preserving status-quio in relation to integration processes and taking advantage of its role in relation to the West.

Hybrid activities of nonWestern actors have known growth in the region but also in our country, even though not in the same size as in the countries of the region. These types of activities are becoming more evident as countries progress in democratic and integration processes.