Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Edward French | Maj. Gen. Miha Škerbinc, Marshall Center professor of security studies and Slovenia's...... read more read more
Maj. Gen. Miha Škerbinc, Marshall Center professor of security studies and Slovenia's senior military representative, was one of several Marshall Center faculty who joined senior leaders and scholars from across Southeastern Europe during the Western Balkans Forum, held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Aug. 26-28, 2025.
“Five percent is a lot of money,” he said. “We have to invest it smartly and close the gap where others can produce faster and cheaper.”
To open the forum, Marshall Center faculty situated the Western Balkans within the broader European-led security and defense framework, underscoring the importance of closing capability gaps and how effective burden sharing strengthens regional security.
Škerbinc expanded on the dynamics of great-power competition in the Western Balkans, reiterating the need for smarter investment and a deeper understanding of how hybrid tactics and economic influence shape the region. His remarks echoed those of other participants who stressed that cooperation across borders is essential to resist external pressures and reestablish credible deterrence.
In sum, the forum took steps toward establishing a foundation so that increased spending – when matched with strategy, cooperation, and regional expertise – becomes a force multiplier for European-led security.
Th event underscored how the Marshall Center serves as a platform where the brightest minds work together to solve the toughest security challenges.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2025 04:25 |
| Story ID: | 548366 |
| Location: | BAYERN, DE |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Western Balkans Forum Share Perspectives on Strengthening Defense and Security, by Sarah Loicano, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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