The KAS Office in Albania, in cooperation with The Albanian Policy Center and with the participation of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, organized the International Conference "Spheres of Influence and Security Challenges in the Western Balkans: The Russian Threat" on November 18.
This conference brought together experts, decision-makers, and academics from Albania, Germany, the USA, and the Balkan region to critically examine Russia's influence and other actors' roles in shaping the security landscape in Albania and the region. The conference was opened with remarks from Dr. Thomas Kunze, Director of KAS Albania and KAS Representative for Russia. By invitation of KAS, the first panel also featured Dr. Christian Forneck, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor for the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag.
The conference proceedings focused on Russia's role in destabilizing democratic institutions through hybrid warfare tactics, disinformation, and strategic investments by Russian oligarchs in the region, as well as regional political trends leaning toward forms of autocratic governance.
