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The Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum II (BSIF 2026) was successfully held on 27–28 March 2026 in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, organized by the Institute for National and International Security (INIS). The Forum was conducted as a closed-door expert gathering under the Chatham House Rule, ensuring a professional, confidential, and highly analytical environment for the exchange of knowledge and experience among participants.
BSIF II represents a distinctive format within the landscape of international security events. Unlike conventional conferences, which are public and broadly participatory, this Forum is designed as a specialized platform for a carefully selected community of experts and practitioners. Participation included senior academics, military and defense attachés, intelligence and law enforcement professionals, and advanced students of Security Science. This curated approach ensured a shared professional framework, allowing for in-depth discussions and operationally relevant insights.
The Forum is conceptually grounded in Security Science as an integrative and foundational discipline. By positioning military, intelligence, police, and broader security studies within a unified scientific framework, BSIF II promotes methodological coherence and cross-sectoral understanding. This approach enables participants to address complex contemporary security challenges through a structured and interdisciplinary lens.
The BSIF II program covered a wide range of critical topics reflecting the evolving global security environment. Discussions addressed hybrid threats, information and cognitive warfare, the role of emerging and disruptive technologies in shaping future battlefields, terrorism in the digital domain, migration-related security risks, and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in security institutions. Particular attention was given to strategic developments in regions such as the South-East Mediterranean, the Indo-Pacific, and Eastern Europe. A dedicated session focused on the current situation in Iran and its broader regional and global security implications, highlighting the Forum’s capacity to address timely and sensitive geopolitical issues.
The Forum brought together a highly distinguished group of international participants, including ambassadors, senior military officers, and leading scholars in security and intelligence studies. Their diverse professional backgrounds contributed to a comprehensive and multidimensional understanding of contemporary security dynamics.
BSIF II was implemented in cooperation with an extensive network of international academic and institutional partners. These included the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning (Romania), the University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron” (Poland), the Faculty of Security in Skopje (North Macedonia), the Zagreb Security Forum (Croatia), the International Security and Partnership Centre (Ukraine), Beopolis University (Serbia), the Faculty for Security and Protection and related academic institutions from the Western Balkans, Óbuda University (Hungary), the Research Institute for European and American Studies – RIEAS (Greece), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy), and the Krakow Security Forum (Poland). The involvement of these partners underscores the Forum’s strong international dimension and its integration into broader European and global security and academic networks.
The successful realization of BSIF II further strengthened Belgrade’s position as an emerging hub for expert-level security dialogue. It also reaffirmed INIS’s role as a leading institution in advancing Security Science and fostering international cooperation in security, intelligence, and strategic studies.
Speakers – BSIF II 2026
The Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum II (BSIF 2026) brought together a distinguished group of speakers from academia, diplomacy, military structures, and the intelligence community. The following speakers and their respective positions participated in the Forum:
- Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović – Director of the Institute for National and International Security (INIS), Serbia
- H.E. Dr. Oleksandr Lytvynenko – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia
- Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tomašević – Rector, Beopolis University, Serbia
- Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Mario Greco – Executive Director, Global Foresight Strategies – Europe; former NATO official, Italy
- Rear Admiral (Ret.) Massimo Esposito – General Manager, AFCEA Europe; former NATO official, Italy
- Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu – President, Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning; Professor, National Defence University / SNSPA, Romania
- Prof. Dr. Jowanka Jakubek-Lalik – Associate Professor of Law, University of Warsaw, Poland
- Representative of the Embassy of Israel in Serbia – Diplomatic representative
- Prof. Dr. Marco Lombardi – Full Professor, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Director, ITSTIME Research Center, Italy
- Prof. Dr. John M. Nomikos – Director, Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS), Greece
- Prof. Dr. Juliusz Piwowarski – Rector, University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron”, Poland
- Prof. Dr. Jagannath Panda – Head, Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (ISDP); Senior Fellow, HCSS, Sweden/Netherlands
- Prof. Dr. Nikola Dujovski – Professor, Faculty of Security, Skopje; Head of Police Sciences Department, North Macedonia
- Prof. Dr. Igor Izhnin – Associate Professor, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine
- Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Ivanov – Full Professor, Faculty of Security, Skopje; Head of Research Center, North Macedonia
- Prof. Dr. János Besenyő – Professor, Óbuda University; Head of Africa Research Institute, Hungary
- Prof. Dr. Branislav Kováčik – Dean, Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Matej Bel University, Slovakia
- Prof. Dr. Oliver Andonov – Professor of Security Studies, North Macedonia
- Prof. Dr. Jan Goldman – Professor, The Citadel; Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, USA (video presentation)
- Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap – Associate Professor, University of Zagreb; Vice-Rector, Croatian Defence Academy, Croatia
- Dr. Jean-Victor Maublanc – Professor of Public Law, France
- Research Fellow Rene D. Kanayama – Senior Researcher, ITSTIME, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
- Prof. Dr. Marijana Musladin – Professor, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Roško Marko – Researcher, Croatia
- Dr. Nikolina Hazdovac Bajić – Assistant Professor, Croatia
- Prof. Dr. Rastislav Kazanský – Professor, Matej Bel University, Slovakia
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Wegener Friis – Professor, University of Southern Denmark; Director, Center for Cold War Studies, Denmark
- Prof. Dr. George S. Oreku – Research Professor in Cyber Security & Information Systems, Tanzania
- Dr. Miad Nakhavali – Analyst of Middle Eastern Politics; Founder, Middle East Analitika
Analytical Summary of Presentations – BSIF 2026
The presentations delivered at the Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum II (BSIF 2026) collectively outlined a comprehensive picture of a rapidly transforming global security environment, characterized by the convergence of technological, geopolitical, and societal dynamics. A dominant theme across the Forum was the transition from traditional forms of conflict toward complex, multidomain competition shaped by hybrid threats, cognitive warfare, and disruptive technologies.
Several keynote interventions emphasized the need for anticipatory strategic thinking to address emerging risks. The evolving nature of NATO and European security was framed not only through conventional military challenges but increasingly through the lens of technological disruption and strategic uncertainty. The role of emerging and disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and digital platforms, was highlighted as a defining factor in shaping future battlefields and security architectures.
A significant portion of the discussions focused on information and cognitive warfare. Presentations addressing disinformation, propaganda, and electoral interference underscored the growing importance of the informational domain as a central arena of geopolitical competition. The analysis of Russian information strategies and hybrid operations demonstrated how narratives, perception management, and societal polarization are systematically used as instruments of power.
The legal and institutional dimensions of security were also explored, particularly in the context of democratic resilience. The balance between security imperatives and the rule of law emerged as a critical challenge for modern states, especially when responding to hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns. These discussions highlighted the increasing role of public administration and governance structures as frontline actors in national security.
Regional security dynamics were examined through multiple lenses, including the South-East Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa. The presentations highlighted the interconnectedness of regional developments, illustrating how strategic competition among major powers extends across geographic boundaries. The Indo-Pacific was identified as a key arena of long-term geopolitical competition, while Africa was discussed in the context of both conflict dynamics and external influence.
The role of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in security institutions emerged as a critical topic. Discussions emphasized the opportunities and risks of integrating AI into security governance, including decision-making processes, operational efficiency, and ethical considerations.
Terrorism and security in the digital domain were addressed by analyzing online platforms and radicalization processes. The evolution of terrorism into the digital space, including the use of social media platforms for recruitment and influence, was identified as a major contemporary challenge requiring innovative countermeasures.
Migration was examined not only as a humanitarian and social issue but also as a factor with significant security implications. Presentations highlighted how migration-related narratives can contribute to moral panic, societal polarization, and political instability, particularly when amplified through media and information operations.
A dedicated session on Iran provided a focused analysis of current geopolitical developments and their broader implications. Discussions emphasized the strategic importance of Iran in regional and global security dynamics, particularly amid ongoing tensions and proxy conflicts.
Finally, the Forum addressed broader questions of geopolitical identity and strategic orientation, particularly in Central Europe. The interplay between pro-Russian sentiments, anti-American narratives, and national identity was examined as a factor influencing regional stability and security policy choices.
Overall, the presentations at BSIF 2026 demonstrated that contemporary security challenges cannot be understood in isolation. Instead, they require an integrated approach that combines technological awareness, geopolitical analysis, institutional resilience, and interdisciplinary methodologies. The Forum reaffirmed the importance of Security Science as a unifying framework to address these complex, interconnected threats.
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The Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum II (BSIF 2026) was successfully held on 27–28 March 2026 in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia, organized by the Institute for National and International Security (INIS). The Forum was conducted as a closed-door expert gathering under the Chatham House Rule, ensuring a professional, confidential, and highly analytical environment for the exchange of knowledge and experience among participants.
BSIF II represents a distinctive format within the landscape of international security events. Unlike conventional conferences, which are public and broadly participatory, this Forum is designed as a specialized platform for a carefully selected community of experts and practitioners. Participation included senior academics, military and defense attachés, intelligence and law enforcement professionals, and advanced students of Security Science. This curated approach ensured a shared professional framework, allowing for in-depth discussions and operationally relevant insights.
The Forum is conceptually grounded in Security Science as an integrative and foundational discipline. By positioning military, intelligence, police, and broader security studies within a unified scientific framework, BSIF II promotes methodological coherence and cross-sectoral understanding. This approach enables participants to address complex contemporary security challenges through a structured and interdisciplinary lens.
The BSIF II program covered a wide range of critical topics reflecting the evolving global security environment. Discussions addressed hybrid threats, information and cognitive warfare, the role of emerging and disruptive technologies in shaping future battlefields, terrorism in the digital domain, migration-related security risks, and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in security institutions. Particular attention was given to strategic developments in regions such as the South-East Mediterranean, the Indo-Pacific, and Eastern Europe. A dedicated session focused on the current situation in Iran and its broader regional and global security implications, highlighting the Forum’s capacity to address timely and sensitive geopolitical issues.
The Forum brought together a highly distinguished group of international participants, including ambassadors, senior military officers, and leading scholars in security and intelligence studies. Their diverse professional backgrounds contributed to a comprehensive and multidimensional understanding of contemporary security dynamics.
BSIF II was implemented in cooperation with an extensive network of international academic and institutional partners. These included the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning (Romania), the University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron” (Poland), the Faculty of Security in Skopje (North Macedonia), the Zagreb Security Forum (Croatia), the International Security and Partnership Centre (Ukraine), Beopolis University (Serbia), the Faculty for Security and Protection and related academic institutions from the Western Balkans, Óbuda University (Hungary), the Research Institute for European and American Studies – RIEAS (Greece), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy), and the Krakow Security Forum (Poland). The involvement of these partners underscores the Forum’s strong international dimension and its integration into broader European and global security and academic networks.
The successful realization of BSIF II further strengthened Belgrade’s position as an emerging hub for expert-level security dialogue. It also reaffirmed INIS’s role as a leading institution in advancing Security Science and fostering international cooperation in security, intelligence, and strategic studies.
Speakers – BSIF II 2026
The Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum II (BSIF 2026) brought together a distinguished group of speakers from academia, diplomacy, military structures, and the intelligence community. The following speakers and their respective positions participated in the Forum:
- Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović – Director of the Institute for National and International Security (INIS), Serbia
- H.E. Dr. Oleksandr Lytvynenko – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia
- Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tomašević – Rector, Beopolis University, Serbia
- Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Mario Greco – Executive Director, Global Foresight Strategies – Europe; former NATO official, Italy
- Rear Admiral (Ret.) Massimo Esposito – General Manager, AFCEA Europe; former NATO official, Italy
- Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu – President, Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning; Professor, National Defence University / SNSPA, Romania
- Prof. Dr. Jowanka Jakubek-Lalik – Associate Professor of Law, University of Warsaw, Poland
- Representative of the Embassy of Israel in Serbia – Diplomatic representative
- Prof. Dr. Marco Lombardi – Full Professor, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Director, ITSTIME Research Center, Italy
- Prof. Dr. John M. Nomikos – Director, Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS), Greece
- Prof. Dr. Juliusz Piwowarski – Rector, University of Public and Individual Security “Apeiron”, Poland
- Prof. Dr. Jagannath Panda – Head, Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (ISDP); Senior Fellow, HCSS, Sweden/Netherlands
- Prof. Dr. Nikola Dujovski – Professor, Faculty of Security, Skopje; Head of Police Sciences Department, North Macedonia
- Prof. Dr. Igor Izhnin – Associate Professor, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine
- Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Ivanov – Full Professor, Faculty of Security, Skopje; Head of Research Center, North Macedonia
- Prof. Dr. János Besenyő – Professor, Óbuda University; Head of Africa Research Institute, Hungary
- Prof. Dr. Branislav Kováčik – Dean, Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Matej Bel University, Slovakia
- Prof. Dr. Oliver Andonov – Professor of Security Studies, North Macedonia
- Prof. Dr. Jan Goldman – Professor, The Citadel; Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, USA (video presentation)
- Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap – Associate Professor, University of Zagreb; Vice-Rector, Croatian Defence Academy, Croatia
- Dr. Jean-Victor Maublanc – Professor of Public Law, France
- Research Fellow Rene D. Kanayama – Senior Researcher, ITSTIME, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
- Prof. Dr. Marijana Musladin – Professor, University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Roško Marko – Researcher, Croatia
- Dr. Nikolina Hazdovac Bajić – Assistant Professor, Croatia
- Prof. Dr. Rastislav Kazanský – Professor, Matej Bel University, Slovakia
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Wegener Friis – Professor, University of Southern Denmark; Director, Center for Cold War Studies, Denmark
- Prof. Dr. George S. Oreku – Research Professor in Cyber Security & Information Systems, Tanzania
- Dr. Miad Nakhavali – Analyst of Middle Eastern Politics; Founder, Middle East Analitika
Analytical Summary of Presentations – BSIF 2026
The presentations delivered at the Belgrade Security and Intelligence Forum II (BSIF 2026) collectively outlined a comprehensive picture of a rapidly transforming global security environment, characterized by the convergence of technological, geopolitical, and societal dynamics. A dominant theme across the Forum was the transition from traditional forms of conflict toward complex, multidomain competition shaped by hybrid threats, cognitive warfare, and disruptive technologies.
Several keynote interventions emphasized the need for anticipatory strategic thinking to address emerging risks. The evolving nature of NATO and European security was framed not only through conventional military challenges but increasingly through the lens of technological disruption and strategic uncertainty. The role of emerging and disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and digital platforms, was highlighted as a defining factor in shaping future battlefields and security architectures.
A significant portion of the discussions focused on information and cognitive warfare. Presentations addressing disinformation, propaganda, and electoral interference underscored the growing importance of the informational domain as a central arena of geopolitical competition. The analysis of Russian information strategies and hybrid operations demonstrated how narratives, perception management, and societal polarization are systematically used as instruments of power.
The legal and institutional dimensions of security were also explored, particularly in the context of democratic resilience. The balance between security imperatives and the rule of law emerged as a critical challenge for modern states, especially when responding to hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns. These discussions highlighted the increasing role of public administration and governance structures as frontline actors in national security.
Regional security dynamics were examined through multiple lenses, including the South-East Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa. The presentations highlighted the interconnectedness of regional developments, illustrating how strategic competition among major powers extends across geographic boundaries. The Indo-Pacific was identified as a key arena of long-term geopolitical competition, while Africa was discussed in the context of both conflict dynamics and external influence.
The role of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in security institutions emerged as a critical topic. Discussions emphasized the opportunities and risks of integrating AI into security governance, including decision-making processes, operational efficiency, and ethical considerations.
Terrorism and security in the digital domain were addressed by analyzing online platforms and radicalization processes. The evolution of terrorism into the digital space, including the use of social media platforms for recruitment and influence, was identified as a major contemporary challenge requiring innovative countermeasures.
Migration was examined not only as a humanitarian and social issue but also as a factor with significant security implications. Presentations highlighted how migration-related narratives can contribute to moral panic, societal polarization, and political instability, particularly when amplified through media and information operations.
A dedicated session on Iran provided a focused analysis of current geopolitical developments and their broader implications. Discussions emphasized the strategic importance of Iran in regional and global security dynamics, particularly amid ongoing tensions and proxy conflicts.
Finally, the Forum addressed broader questions of geopolitical identity and strategic orientation, particularly in Central Europe. The interplay between pro-Russian sentiments, anti-American narratives, and national identity was examined as a factor influencing regional stability and security policy choices.
Overall, the presentations at BSIF 2026 demonstrated that contemporary security challenges cannot be understood in isolation. Instead, they require an integrated approach that combines technological awareness, geopolitical analysis, institutional resilience, and interdisciplinary methodologies. The Forum reaffirmed the importance of Security Science as a unifying framework to address these complex, interconnected threats.
