October 8th – 11th 2026

11^th ZAGREB SECURITY FORUM 2026

Quo Vadis Europe

in 21^st Century

A decade proven: The eleventh confirms it: ZSF XI

Organized by 

Day 1: Thursday, October 8^th, 2026

 

Day 2: Friday, October 9^th, 2026

09:00 – 09:30   Arrival and Registration

09:30 – 10:00  Opening Ceremony

Assoc.Prof. Gordan Akrap, Hybrid Warfare Research Institute, and Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, Zagreb

Norbert Eschborn, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Office for Croatia and Slovenia

Prof.Dr. Shlomo Shpiro, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 

Prof.Dr. Ivo Lučić, rector of Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, Zagreb

10:00 – 11:00 Introduction to Forum - Guests of Honor

11:00-11:20 Coffee Break

11:20-13:00 WORKSHOP 1 - STRATEGICAL CHALLENGES

Chair: Assist. Prof. Daria Vilkova, Taras Schevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kiyv, Ukraine

1. Prof.Dr. Iulian Chifu, National Defence University, Romania: Great Powers, Middle Powers consortiums, Minor Powers. A Geopolitical Pragmatic Realism

2. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Blum, Institute for Economics and Techonologies of Lithium, Germany: Innovative Defence against Hybrid Attacks – Can West do Better?

3. Dr. Agata Kleczkowska, Institute of Law Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences: The International Order at a Crossroads: Is It Time for International Law 2.0?

4. RA (ret.) Eyal Pinko, PhD, Bar-Ilan University, Israel: The Maritime Front of Europe's Hybrid War

5. Maja Pokrovac, M.Sc., MBA, RES Croatia: Weapponisations of Energy - Challenges and Opportunities

 

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch (one non-alcoholic beverage included)

14:00 – 15:40 WORKSHOP 2 – DEVELOPMENTS IN HYBRID WAFARE

Chair: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vira Ratsiborynska, Free University Bruxelles, Belgium 

1. Prof. Dr. Kristian Kotarski, University of Zagreb, Croatia, and Prof. Dr. Ashok Vaseashta, Institute for National Strategic Studies, USA: The Architecture of Power: China’s Regulatory Weaponization and Technological Denial in the Global Rare Earth Supply Chain 

2. Prof. Dr. Driss Larafi, University Ibn Tofail, College of Legal and political sciences, Kenitra, Morocco: “Donroe Doctrine" and NATO Europe

3. Prof. Dr. Shlomo Shpiro, Dr. Barak Bouks, School of communication & Department of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Israel: Hybrid Warfare and Military Operations in Gaza and Iran Wars: Lessons for European Security

4. Dr. Anders Strindberg, Swedish Defence Research Agency-FOI, Sweden: The Shifting Sands of Jihadism: European Counterterrorism in a Changing Strategic Landscape

5. BG Ephraim Lapid, PhD, Bar Ilan University: Intelligence Lessons from Israel's Recent Wars

 

15:40 – 16:00 Coffee Break

16:00 – 18:00 BRAINSTORMING SESSION 3 - DISINFORMATION AND ELECTORAL INFLUENCE

Chair: Assoc. Prof. Gordan Akrap, Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, Zagreb, Croatia

1. Assoc. Prof. Viacheslav Semenenko, PhD., Military Academy, Ukraine: Ukraine’s National Resilience in War: Lessons for Post-Conflict Governance 

2. Dr. Sofia Menezes, Portuguese Military Academy, Portugal: Engaging Generation Z in European Defence: Strategic Communication Challenges and Policy Responses (online)

3. Dr. Michał Marek, NASK (Disinformation Analysis Centre), Poland: Russian Psychological Operations: A Real Threat to the Security and Stability of European Countries 

4. Prof.Dr. Omar Oscar Ashour, Doha Institute, Doha, Qatar and University of Exeter, UK: Ukraine's Hybrid Defence: Multi-Domain Lessons for Small(er) States

5. Dr. Ahmed El-Sayed Gabr Habaieb, PhD, NATO Defense College Alumnus, Rome: The Enemy Among Us: The Prevalence of Extremism in Military, Veteran and Law Enforcement Communities

6. Assist. Prof. Ivan Burazin, Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, Zagreb: With Guns and Drums: Terrorism, Movements and Antimovements 

 

20:00 - Networking dinner for all Forum participants, (two non-alcoholic beverages included) – Hotel Westin 

 

 

Day 3: Saturday, October 10^th, 2026

WORKSHOP ROOM A

10:00 – 11:45 Workshop IV_A: WESTERN BALKAN 1

Chair: Assoc. Prof. Thomas Wegener Friis, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

1. Dr. Jurica Botić, Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, Zagreb: The European Path of the Western Balkans: Identity as a Challenge to Loyalty

2. Angela Kukushev, PhD student, Ministry of Interior, and Prof. Dr. Vasko Naumovski, “Iustinianus Primus Faculty of Law”, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, N. Macedonia: Hybrid Threats and Security Sector Vulnerabilities in the Western Balkans: Russian Interference Below the Threshold of Conflict

3. Prof. Dr. Bojana Lakičević Đuranović, University of Montenegro: International Humanitarian Law and Russian Aggression on Ukraine – Influencing Information Environment

4. Dr. Eleni Kapsokoli, Adjunct Lecturer, International and European Studies, Paneion University, Greece: The Role of AI in Electoral Interferences: Challenges for the EU’s Societal Resilience (online)

5. Dr. Andrew N. Liaropoulos, University of Piraeus, Greece: Hybrid Challenges in NATO’s Southern Neighbourhood (online) 

 

11:45 – 12:00 Coffee Break

12:00 – 13:45 Workshop V_A: FIMI ACTIVITIES

Chair: Prof. Dr. Kristian Kotarski, University of Zagreb, Croatia

1. Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović, Institute for National and International Security, Belgrade, Serbia: Russian Proxy Operations Against Europe
2. Assoc. Prof. Gordan Akrap, Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defense and Security University, Zagreb and Assoc. Prof. dr. Dražen Barbarić, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Information environment in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina – Results of Info25 project
3. Dr. Przemyslaw Gasztold, IPN and War Studies University, Warsaw, Poland: Manufacturing contestation: Russian Disinformation, Populist Mobilization, and Polish-Ukrainian Relations 

4. Megi Benia, Founder and Director of Strategic Security Initiative, Georgia: Deterrence through Resilience: Strengthening European Security in the Age of Hybrid Threats (online)

5. Danylo Naumenko-Dyakiv, advisor to the Head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation, Kyiv, Ukraine: Russia’s Cultural Intervention: Soft Power as a Domain of Cognitive Warfare (online)

 

13:45 – 14:45 Lunch (one non-alcoholic beverage included)

14:45 – 16:30 Workshop VI_A: RESILIENCE AND HYBRIDITY OF THREATS

Chair: Assist. Prof. Janis Berzins, Center for Security and Strategic Research (CSSR) at the National Defense Academy of Latvia, Latvia

1. Prof. Dr. Rastislav Kazansky, Matej Bel University (Slovakia) and South Bohemian University (Czech Republik): Anti-Americanism, Russophilia and the Erosion of Democratic Resilience: Challenges for NATO–EU Strategic Cohesion in the 21st Century

2. Assist. Prof. Dr. Csongor B. Veress, Ludovika University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary: Adapting to a Changing Security Environment: Romania’s and Moldova’s New Defence Paradigms

3. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gintaras Labutis, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania: Refined Fuel Production Dynamics in Europe: How it will Affect Resilient Energy Supply (online)

4. Dr. Inga Kristina Trauthig, Florida International University, USA: Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Resilience: How Political Propagandists Actually Use AI (online)

5. Dr. Roman Domović, PhD, Hybrid Warfare Research Institute, Zagreb: Disinformation and Informaiton Environment: Case of Croatia – Results of ATENA project

 

WORKSHOP ROOM B

10:00 – 11:45 Workshop IV_B: ENERGY AND RESILIENCE  

Chair: Assist. Prof. Dr. Csongor B. Veress, Károli Gáspár University, Budapest, Hungary:

1. Yordan Katsarov and Simeon Arnaudov, Bulgarian Air Force Academy “Georgi Benkovski”: Energy Resilience in Hybrid-Threat Environments: The Role of Small Modular Reactors 

2. Genny Dimitrakopoulou, Center for Security Studies, Atena, Greece: Digital Interdependence and Strategic Risk: Hybrid Threats in the Energy Sector

3. Assist. Prof. Tomislav Sunko, Dr. Franjo Tudjman Defense and Secuirty University, Toni Miskovic, OiV, Lovro Strnad and Roko Brečić, cadets at Dr. Franjo Tudjman Defense and Security University: New Geopolitical challenges to the Maritime Security of the Republic of Croatia 

4. Kie Jacobson, KAS, Germany-Canada: Fragmentation Across Both Arenas: Croatia’s Strategic Role in EU-NATO Security and the Western Balkans

5. Jan Schmucker, German Armed Forces: The Baltic–Adriatic Axis: An Emerging Strategic Space in Europe’s Security Architecture

 

11:45 – 12:00 Coffee Break

12:00 – 13:45 Workshop V_B: AI AND CYBER RESILIENCE

Chair: Prof. Dr. Shlomo Shpiro, Bar Ilan University, Israel

1. Assoc. Prof. Dr.sc Vesna Poposka, Assoc. Prof. Dr.sc Aleksandar Grzizhev, Assist. Prof. Dr.sc Ljupcho Shosholovski, Military Academy „General Mihailo Apostolski“-Skopje, N. Macedonia: Scenario-Based Pathways for Democratic Resilience and Euro-Atlantic Cohesion under Hybrid Pressure

2. Sergiu Mitrescu, New Strategy Center (Associate Expert), Romania: Unintended Consequences of Responses to Hybrid Threats

3. Aleksandre Buzaladze, University of Tartu, Estonia: Cybersecurity Governance in Small European States: A Comparative Analysis of Georgia and Croatia

4. Jungseob Scott Kim, Staff (Lead) Cyber Defense Analyst – Threat Intelligence, USA:  Cyber-Enabled Data Leaks as Cognitive Warfare: Implications for EU–NATO Coordination (online)

Lessons Learned, Workshop Conclusions and Recommendations – for 10 minutes

13:45 – 14:45 Lunch (one non-alcoholic beverage included)

 

WORKSHOP ROOM A

16:30 – 16:40 Conclusions of the 11^th ZSF: Future Challenges, Joint Responses

Co-chairs: Assoc. Prof. Gordan Akrap, Prof. Dr. Shlomo Shpiro

The aim of this session is to integrate the lessons learned from the individual presentations of the previous two days, both in terms of threat analysis and of networked responses. Furthermore, this session will facilitate a wider discussion on the needs for joint capacity building, intensive inter-operability, and mutual multi-level crisis assistance.