Skopje, 10 February 2026 (MIA) — Strategic cooperation between countries is essential for building resilient institutions, stable democracies and secure digital infrastructure amid increasing global challenges, Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski said Tuesday in his keynote speech at the Budapest Global Dialogue 2026.

According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation in a press release, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó opened the conference, which features high-level panel discussions dedicated to global security, geopolitical changes and digital transformation.

In his speech, Minister Andonovski said cyberattacks on critical infrastructure were not a virtual threat but a real risk.

"When hospitals, energy networks, water supply systems or financial infrastructure are the target of cyberattacks, the consequences are deeply real: disrupted lives, weakened institutions and an increased risk of escalation," he said.

Andonovski also pointed to the dangers of disinformation.

"When disinformation destroys public trust, democracies are hardly functional and societies lose their cohesion. When critical technology supply chains become a means of pressure, then sovereignty becomes conditional," he said.

He also said cybersecurity needed to be viewed as national security and not as a technical formality.

"Cybersecurity cannot be tacked on at the end of projects. It has to be embedded in the way governments work, the way infrastructure is procured, the way public services are delivered and the way crises are managed," Andonovski said.

He also spoke about the importance of digital transformation for strengthening public trust.

"Digital transformation should make the state more transparent, accessible and accountable. When citizens receive efficient services and businesses operate in a predictable and secure environment, the social contract between the state and citizens is stronger," he said.

According to the digital transformation minister, strategic cooperation needs to be concrete and operational. He said this meant states fighting together against cybercrime and ransomware, sharing best practices, building relationships for rapid response to incidents and strengthening cybersecurity standards.

As part of his visit to Budapest, Andonovski is set to hold several bilateral meetings with senior government representatives and discuss ways to promote cooperation in digital transformation, cybersecurity as well as linking energy and digital systems, the release said. mr/