In an interview for Deutsche Welle, Dr. Rumena Filipova discussed the drone attacks in the Black Sea and what they reveal about Bulgaria’s exposure to hybrid threats. She said that the incident marks an escalation in attacks against Bulgaria and argued that the country is a weak link and an easy target for foreign malign …
Registration Open for International Conference: Central and South Eastern Europe After Four Years of War International Conference in Sofia, October 27 – Registration Open The Institute for Global Analytics, in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, is convening the international conference Central and South Eastern Europe After Four Years of War: New …
In an interview with Roselina Petkova for Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, Dr Rumena Filipova discussed the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping and what it reveals about the trajectory of US-China relations. She argued that the meeting can be understood as an attempt to maintain communication and gradually establish mechanisms …
In the most recent episode of the Balkans podcast on the Bulgarian National Television, Dr Rumena Filipova spoke with journalist Nikolay Krastev about the growing interference of China in the Western Balkans and its wider implications for the region. The conversation addressed several key dimensions of Chinese engagement, including: the economic and strategic rationale behind …
In a new investigation by Svobodna Tochka, Dr Rumena Filipova discusses the changing nature of Chinese intelligence operations across Europe. Among her key observations: China’s intelligence activities increasingly rely on academia, business, technology, and professional networking platforms – not only traditional espionage. The line between legitimate economic or diplomatic engagement and intelligence gathering is becoming …
Dr Rumena Filipova joined Bloomberg TV Bulgaria to discuss the latest geopolitical developments, from the Middle East and NATO to Europe’s security architecture and Bulgaria’s foreign policy direction. Among the key topics discussed: Why renewed US-Iran negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme remain likely despite heightened regional tensions; Why the outlook for NATO remains positive, with …
Dr Rumena Filipova participated as a speaker at the Research Security and Due Diligence in Academia workshop, held in Sofia on 29–30 June and organised by Sandia National Laboratories, with the support of the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) at the U.S. Department of State. The two-day workshop brought together Bulgarian and international experts …
Research Security and Due Diligence in Academia Workshop, Sofia Read More »
In the interview, Dr. Rumena Filipova cautions against framing Rumen Radev as “the new Viktor Orbán”, noting that Bulgaria’s institutional setup and slower trajectory of Europeanisation make direct comparisons misleading. Rather than a clear ideological shift, she points to continuity: Bulgarian foreign policy is likely to keep balancing between pro-EU and pro-Russian positions, with more …
In her comments for European Western Balkans, Dr Rumena Filipova argues that Bulgaria’s new political stability is unlikely to translate into movement on key regional issues. Her key points: No shift on North Macedonia: Radev is expected to maintain a firm line, particularly on the requirement to include a Bulgarian minority in the constitution — …
In her commentary for El Español, Dr. Rumena Filipova highlights that Rumen Radev’s decisive electoral victory should be understood in light of longer-term trends in Bulgarian public attitudes, particularly a sustained preference for strongman-style leadership. Key takeaways: Radev’s win reflects pre-existing societal preferences for a paternalistic, stability-oriented leadership model This trend cuts across demographics, including …
