From November 19-20, Chisinau hosted the Moldova Security Forum 2024, a major event that brought together over 500 participants from 28 countries. Supported by respected international partners, the forum offered a platform for senior officials, experts, civil society leaders, and academics to discuss the pressing challenges of global and regional security.
The event took place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, shaped by a convergence of contemporary crises: armed conflicts, geopolitical disputes, emerging technology risks, the climate crisis, and the erosion of democratic values. These issues were explored in a series of interactive panels that underscored the need for unprecedented international cooperation to address the challenges of our time.
A symbolic day of the forum was November 19, which marked 1,000 days since the start of the war in Ukraine. This moment emphasized the importance of regional solidarity and strengthening resilience in the face of shared threats.
The forum was organized with the support of renowned institutions, such as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Moldova, the Platform for Security and Defense Initiatives, and many other international partners. This broad collaboration demonstrated the value of strategic partnerships for national and regional security.
A significant part of the forum was the panel dedicated to artificial intelligence and its impact on national security—“The Frontiers of Cybersecurity: The Artificial Intelligence Revolution for National Security,” moderated by Leoni Heyn, a researcher at Kiel University. In this context, UTM Vice-Rector Dinu Țurcanu, alongside other renowned experts, discussed both the opportunities and challenges AI brings to cybersecurity, contributing to strategic discussions about the digital future of the region.
Today, security can no longer be approached solely from a traditional perspective. We live in an era of digital transformation, where artificial intelligence not only redefines the way we work, communicate, and innovate, but also profoundly influences national and regional security. In this context, emerging cyber challenges demand complex and adaptive responses. At UTM and CYBERCOR, we are committed to leading the preparation of the new generation of specialists capable of managing these risks. Our research in cybersecurity, combined with our strategic partnerships, is an example of our dedication to contributing to regional stability. The future depends on our ability to collaborate and innovate together to create sustainable and ethical solutions in an increasingly interconnected world. We must bring attention to the dual role of Artificial Intelligence: on one hand, it is a potential threat in global security operations conducted by adversaries, but on the other hand, it is a significant opportunity for organizations and nations to protect their infrastructures, as stated by Mr. Țurcanu during the discussions.
The event highlighted the crucial role of constructive dialogue and international cooperation in developing sustainable solutions to today’s security challenges. In closing, Mr. Țurcanu expressed his gratitude to all the participants and extended special thanks to his fellow panelists: Dr. Cameran Ashraf, Professor at Central European University, Founder of Access Now, and Human Rights Lead at Wikimedia Foundation (online); Mihai George Forlafu, Senior Security Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft; and Dmytro Plieshakov, CEO and Co-Founder of Osavul.
