Supporting cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the Western Balkans

(a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) 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; (2) insecure ICT networks that are vulnerable to manipulation can increase opportunities for— (A) the compromise of cyber infrastructure, including data networks, electronic infrastructure, and software systems; and (B) the use of online information operations by adversaries and malign actors to undermine United States allies and interests; and (3) it is in the national security interest of the United States to support the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of Western Balkans countries. (b) Interagency report on cybersecurity and the digital information environment in Western Balkans countries Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that contains— (1) an overview of interagency efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans countries; (2) a review of the information environment in each Western Balkans country; (3) a review of existing United States Government cyber and digital initiatives that— (A) counter influence operations and safeguard elections and democratic processes in Western Balkans countries; (B) strengthen ICT infrastructure, digital accessibility, and cybersecurity capacity in the Western Balkans; (C) support democracy and internet freedom in Western Balkans countries; and (D) build cyber capacity of governments who are allies or partners of the United States; (4) an assessment of cyber threat information sharing between the United States and Western Balkans countries; (5) an assessment of— (A) options for the United States to better support cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans countries through changes to current assistance authorities; and (B) 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 (6) any additional support needed from the United States for the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of the following NATO Allies: Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.