Last month, police detained leading pro-Kremlin military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk on suspicion of spreading Russian influence.

Krapović said Montenegro’s 2027 election would bring more of these challenges. He also called for more high-level NATO officials to visit the country, saying that would signal Montenegro’s importance to the alliance.

“NATO and the EU need to stay very present … practically and politically,” he said.

Public support for NATO differs sharply between the two countries. According to a recent NATO poll conducted this spring and seen by POLITICO, 95% of Albanians support remaining in the alliance, compared with 52% of Montenegrin respondents — the lowest share of any NATO member.

The alliance had previously sent hybrid response teams to Montenegro in 2019 and Lithuania in 2021. The alliance also sent a team to Albania in 2022 after an Iranian cyberattack crippled government and citizen-facing digital service sites.

The call from both ministers underscores far-reaching anxiety in Europe around Russian sabotage and hybrid warfare that alliance officials say is aimed at fracturing alliance unity and stopping Ukraine’s partners from sending military support to Kyiv.

While sending a team would typically require consensus among NATO members, three NATO diplomats, granted anonymity to speak freely, said allies would be open to considering the option. But they cautioned that Albania should not use any response for domestic political reasons.

A NATO official speaking on behalf of the organization said the alliance “can provide further support, when requested.” The official added: “Allies have stepped up preparing for, deterring and defending against destabilising action, including by improving their cyber defences.”