22 U.S.C. § 10708: Supporting cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the Western Balkans

United States support for cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and secure ICT infrastructure in Western Balkans countries will strengthen the region’s ability to defend itself from and respond to malicious cyber activity conducted by nonstate and foreign actors, including foreign governments, that seek to influence the region; the compromise of cyber infrastructure, including data networks, electronic infrastructure, and software systems; and the use of online information operations by adversaries and malign actors to undermine United States allies and interests; it is in the national security interest of the United States to support the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of Western Balkans countries; and it is in the national security interest of the United States to support continued progress to enhance cybersecurity infrastructure in Western Balkan countries in response to threats posed by state and non-state actors, including threats originating from the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. an overview of interagency efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans countries; a review of the information environment in each Western Balkans country; counter influence operations and safeguard elections and democratic processes in Western Balkans countries; strengthen ICT infrastructure, digital accessibility, and cybersecurity capacity in the Western Balkans; support democracy and internet freedom in Western Balkans countries; and build cyber capacity of governments who are allies or partners of the United States; an assessment of cyber threat information sharing between the United States and Western Balkans countries; options for the United States to better support cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans countries through changes to current assistance authorities; and the advantages or limitations, such as funding or office space, of posting cyber professionals from other Federal departments and agencies to United States diplomatic posts in Western Balkans countries and providing relevant training to Foreign Service Officers; and any additional support needed from the United States for the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of the following NATO Allies: Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.