NATO summit in Tirana still uncertain, Albania seeks Alliance’s help against Russian disinformation

Albania is seeking stronger support from NATO to confront hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns, as uncertainty continues over whether the Alliance’s next summit will be held in Tirana.

Defense Minister Ermal Nufi has asked NATO to send experts to the country who could help institutions detect and counter suspected online interference.

Holding the summit in Tirana has been discussed among various alternatives. The Albanian government has expressed its readiness to consider postponing the meeting or holding it virtually.

On November 3, however, the Ministry of Defense announced that, following a conversation between Prime Minister Edi Rama and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Tirana had once again been confirmed as the host city. The date of the summit has not yet been set.

In an interview with POLITICO, Nufi and his Montenegrin counterpart, Dragan Krapović, called on the Alliance to increase assistance for Western Balkan countries. They proposed sending specialized teams to counter disinformation and suspected Russian interference.

Nufi said that over the past year there had been an increase in social media posts that, he said, fuel anger and hatred in society. He also mentioned the discovery of organizations with indirect links to Russia and called for a more active NATO role in identifying malicious online actors.

“NATO needs to be more active in identifying ways to counter malicious online actors, by establishing protocols among member countries and creating response teams to help any country in need,” Nufi said.

The minister said Albania needed more assistance to strengthen its institutions and protect itself from interference in the digital space.

Allegations of foreign influence online have fueled political debate in the country. Prime Minister Edi Rama has blamed Russia and Iran for inciting anti-corruption protests that have continued since May.

Communications experts have rejected these claims. Blerjana Bino, co-founder of the Tirana-based research center SCiDEV, told POLITICO that although social media campaigns linked to Russia on various issues had been documented in the past, there was no evidence proving that Russia was behind the protests, as the prime minister has claimed.

According to Bino, when the government attributes citizens’ dissatisfaction to foreign interference, it risks undermining the protesters’ legitimate grievances.

She pointed out that Russia-linked disinformation campaigns have also targeted Albania’s integration into the European Union and its NATO membership, while fueling social divisions over various issues, including the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Russia and Iran have denied accusations of involvement in the Albanian protests.

NATO began developing teams to respond to hybrid threats in 2018. Antonio Missiroli, the Alliance’s former assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges, said the teams usually consist of around 12 experts made available by member countries.

The experts help monitor threats, coordinate the response of institutions and build the capacity of countries facing hybrid attacks.

NATO sent such teams to Montenegro in 2019 and Lithuania in 2021. An Alliance team went to Albania in 2022, following Iranian cyberattacks against government systems and digital services for citizens.

A NATO official said the Alliance was ready to provide additional assistance if requested by member countries. According to him, the allies are increasing preparations and defensive measures against destabilizing actions, including by strengthening cybersecurity.

However, sending another team requires the consensus approval of NATO members. Three Alliance diplomats, cited by POLITICO, said this possibility would be considered, while warning that the assistance should not serve domestic political interests.

A NATO poll conducted in the spring and obtained by POLITICO shows that 95% of respondents in Albania support the country remaining in the Alliance. In Montenegro, support stands at 52%, the lowest percentage among member countries.

The discussion on cybersecurity and disinformation is taking place as Albania aims to join the European Union by the end of the decade and is preparing to host the NATO summit in Tirana.