NATO SPS ATC “STRENGTH” – 3RD WORKING DAY HIGHLIGHTS (29.09.2021)

During Block – III, trainees have learned how non-state actors use hybrid methods via cyberspace. Experts have addressed terrorist radicalization, recruitment and propaganda via cyberspace. Trainees were given the opportunity to understand NATO and NATO Members’ best practices and cooperation in countering terrorists’ cyberspace activities as a means to an end in building a resilient cyber defence.

The third working day of the ATC event started with another great presentation with Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ece Ünsal, currently working at both: at Beykent University on Department of International Relations as Assistant Professor and Air War Collage at National Defence University in Istanbul. She also has given lectures at the NATO Center of Excellence Defence against Terrorism (CEO-DAT) in Ankara. Professor Zeynep presented on ’’The Terrorist use of Cyberspace & Countering Terrorist Radicalization, Recruitment and Propaganda via Cyberspace’’. Expounding each term of the presentation in putting the effort to give a proper definition for each of them, she reached the topic of the propaganda via cyberspace and provided new insights on the solution of this problem, yet again starting from the point of describing it from all above-enlisted angles. She concluded her presentation by making the point that the problem needs to be approached differently, namely from touching the root causes followed by recommendations, if success on the issue needs to be met, otherwise our fight against the use of cyberspace for terrorism, radicalization, recruitment and propaganda would resemble the fight against the windmills of Don Quixote.

Another outstanding lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Metodi Hadji Janev, an associate professor at the Military Academy General Mihailo Apostolski”-Skopje, a unit of University “Goce Delcev” in Stip, Macedonia and an adjunct faculty member at Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, Arizona State University, ASU, U.S.A., a vice president of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia, an official disseminator at the Macedonian part of the International Red Cross, North Macedonia, titled ’’Legal Perspectives of Hybrid Warfare Activities in Cyberspace’’. Provided that the very topic embraces a wide range of aspects, in this presentation, Professor Hadji Janev tried to cover all of them starting from the very definitions and continuing the extensive explanation as to reach the core of the issues, the recommendations, and the conditions for the fulfillment of the tasks that need to be completed and finalized with a very specific emphasis on solving the problems. Cases for practically every single point touched in this presentation were significantly pointed.