Participation of the Military Academy in the Annual Partnership for Peace (PfPC) Conference in Vienna
The "General Mihailo Apostolski" Military Academy – Skopje actively participated in the annual Partnership for Peace (PfPC) conference, held at the National Defense Academy in Vienna, Austria, from January 28 to 30, 2025. This conference serves as a key forum for exchanging knowledge and experiences among high-ranking officials, academics, and security and defense experts. The main focus of the event was cognitive warfare, hybrid threats, and educational cooperation in the region.
As part of the official program, the Dean of the Military Academy, Prof. Dr. Mitko Bogdanoski, participated as a panelist in the session "Dueling Perspectives: Collaborating and Competing in the Cognitive Realm." Together with experts from Finland, the United States, Switzerland, and Germany, discussions centered on the challenges posed by cognitive warfare, manipulation techniques affecting perception, and the need for enhanced international cooperation to counter these threats.
In his presentation, Prof. Bogdanoski addressed real-world examples from the Western Balkans. The discussion emphasized the difficulties states face in dealing with cognitive warfare, as well as strategies for defense through strengthened international cooperation, education, and institutional resilience.
Within the poster session "Gallery Walk: Educational Cooperation in the Balkans," Prof. Dr. Biljana Karovska from the Military Academy participated as a representative of the NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme (NATO DEEP). She presented NATO DEEP’s efforts to enhance military education across the region. Through this presentation, the Military Academy reaffirmed its role as an active partner in NATO DEEP programs, which aim to develop the capacities of military educational institutions throughout the region.
The PfPC Conference proved to be a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences between the academic community, security institutions, and military structures. The participation of the Military Academy contributed to:
- Deepening academic and strategic cooperation with NATO and partner countries.
- Strengthening the Military Academy’s role as a key center for security studies in the region.
- Developing new initiatives in cognitive warfare, hybrid threats, and defense education.
Through active collaboration, education, and knowledge exchange, the Military Academy continues to play a crucial role in building resilient security structures and academic capacities, ensuring effective responses to modern security challenges.
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