---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 10708"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "10708"
heading: "Supporting cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the Western Balkans"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/10708"
units:
  - "Chapter 114 — Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity"
---

# §10708. Supporting cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the Western Balkans

- (a) **Sense of Congress—** It is the sense of Congress that—
  - (1) [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) support for cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and secure [ICT](/usc/22/10703.md?p=2) infrastructure in [Western Balkans countries](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4) will strengthen the region’s ability to defend itself from and respond to malicious cyber activity conducted by nonstate and [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) actors, including [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) governments, that seek to influence the region;
  - (2) insecure [ICT](/usc/22/10703.md?p=2) 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](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) allies and interests;
  - (3) it is in the national security interest of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) to support the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of [Western Balkans countries](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4); and
  - (4) it is in the national security interest of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) 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.
- (b) **Interagency report on cybersecurity and the digital information environment in Western Balkans countries—** Not later than 1 year after December 18, 2025, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Defense, the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) of Homeland Security, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit a report to the [appropriate committees of Congress](/usc/22/10703.md?p=1) 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](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4);
  - (2) a review of the information environment in each [Western Balkans country](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4);
  - (3) a review of existing [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) Government cyber and digital initiatives that—
    - (A) counter influence operations and safeguard elections and democratic processes in [Western Balkans countries](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4);
    - (B) strengthen [ICT](/usc/22/10703.md?p=2) infrastructure, digital accessibility, and cybersecurity capacity in the [Western Balkans](/usc/22/10703.md?p=3);
    - (C) support democracy and internet freedom in [Western Balkans countries](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4); and
    - (D) build cyber capacity of governments who are allies or partners of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1);
  - (4) an assessment of cyber threat information sharing between the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) and [Western Balkans countries](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4);
  - (5) an assessment of—
    - (A) options for the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) to better support cybersecurity and cyber resilience in [Western Balkans countries](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4) through changes to current assistance authorities; and
    - (B) the advantages or limitations, such as funding or [office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) space, of posting cyber professionals from other Federal departments and agencies to [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) diplomatic posts in [Western Balkans countries](/usc/22/10703.md?p=4) and providing relevant [training](/usc/22/8921.md?p=3) to [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Service Officers; and
  - (6) any additional support needed from the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) for the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of the following NATO Allies: Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8339, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1876.)