Becirovic warns: NATO enlargement is best defence against hybrid attacks

Speaking at a roundtable titled "Strengthening Democratic Resilience and Addressing Hybrid Threats" during the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, the Chair warned that democracy is currently facing a planned and "open" assault. He stressed that non-democratic actors are increasingly utilising hybrid activities to erode public trust in institutions and democratic processes.

Drawing on his nation's history, Chair Becirovic observed that propaganda frequently serves as a precursor to physical aggression, noting that lies and disinformation often end in violence. He detailed how Bosnia currently faces an array of sophisticated challenges, ranging from cyberattacks and information manipulation to deliberate attempts to destabilise the constitutional order.

The Chair issued a specific warning regarding the 2026 general elections, citing an expected surge in the misuse of artificial intelligence for forgeries and the proliferation of fake social media content designed to bolster Eurosceptic narratives and obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration.

The Russian connection and the strategic response

Becirovic drew attention to the 2025 European Parliament report, which highlighted the Kremlin's influence within the Republika Srpska (RS) entity. He echoed the report's concerns that the entity is being utilised as a platform for intelligence operations and hybrid activities targeted not only at Bosnia but at the wider European Union.

He argued that the Western Balkans remains a key strategic area where the continent's democratic resolve is being tested and cautioned against underestimating these risks.

In his concluding remarks, the Chair argued that the most effective deterrent against both unconventional and conventional threats would be the formal enlargement of NATO to include Bosnia. To bolster regional security, he proposed three essential steps: the classification of foreign information manipulation as a primary security threat, the hardening of critical physical and digital infrastructure, and the protection of electoral processes through enhanced international oversight and digital security.