Sitemap

Comment

Why is America Eclipsing the EU in the Balkans?

CorD Recommends

Opinion

The Economic Power of Gender Equality

Pursuing diversity and an equal role for...

Featured

Companies to Create an Inclusive Environment

To increase women’s participation in the workforce...

Opinion

How to End the Scourge of Maternal Mortality

Maternal mortality is a surprisingly difficult problem...

Comment

From Angela To Donald

EU enlargement has been treated as an...

Young People in the EU Show Greater Trust in Others

In 2023, the estimated average trust level in others among individuals aged 16 and older in the European Union...

Belgian Residents Among the Wealthiest in Europe

Belgian residents are among the wealthiest in Europe, with their wealth significantly exceeding the eurozone average, according to the...

NBS Foreign Exchange Reserves Increase by €4.38 Billion in One Year

The gross foreign exchange reserves of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) reached a record level of €29.294 billion...

EBRD Investments Surge to a Record €16.6 Billion in 2024

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reported a 26% increase in investments in 2024, reaching a record...

Convincing Victory for Zoran Milanović in the Second Round of Croatia’s Presidential Elections

The incumbent President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, secured around 75% of the votes, while Dragan Primorac garnered approximately 25%...

On 20 January, Belgrade and Pristina agreed to launch direct commercial flights after more than 20 years.

Direct flights were halted in 1998 when war broke out in Kosovo between ethnic Albanian insurgents and Serbian security forces. Serbia lost control of its former province after the NATO bombing in 1999 ended the ethnic conflict in which more than 13,000 people, mainly Kosovo Albanians, were killed.

Then, on 6 February the new Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, pledged to abolish the 100% tariffs on Serbian imports, an impediment to normalisation efforts between the two countries enforced by his hardline predecessor Ramush Haradinaj in 2018.

But there was more. On 15 February, the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo, Alexandar Vučić and Hashim Thaçi, announced during the Munich Security Conference deals to work on building rail and road links between their capitals.

Whereas getting them in the same room was already difficult enough until now, there are even rumours Washington wants the Serbia-Kosovo issue done and dusted this year.

There is one thing in common in all these three developments: the broker was the United States, represented by the country’s hyperactive ambassador to Berlin, Richard Grenell.

The EU had tried and failed to fix the tariffs crisis. In a typical American style, Grenell reportedly told Pristina that the US will annul its investment in Kosovo unless the tariffs are revoked. He may have said other things as well, for all we know.

One of the obvious reasons for the sudden US activism in the Balkans is Russia, which has always had appetites for the region. The other, less visible one, is Turkey, which is no longer the reliable ally the US needs in the region

The resumption of flights was hailed by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, but no similar congratulations came from the EU side. The same goes for the other breakthroughs. It really looks like the EU is jealous of America’s success in the Balkans.

On 14 February, journalists asked the Commission to comment the US successes, as there is a lot of EU money being spent in the region without any such visible results. In reply, the EU executive was on the defensive during the next 18 minutes.

The questions remain: why is the US more successful than the EU in our immediate neighbourhood? Is it because Grenell is more talented as a diplomat than Borrell or his predecessor Mogherini? Or is it because the EU only relies on soft power, while the US also uses other, more effective methods, such as blackmail of corrupt politicians?

In any case, the US is much more active on the wider Balkans these days. US pressure can also be felt in North Macedonia and even in EU member Bulgaria. In the latter, State Secretary Mike Pompeo for the first time named a corrupt official, and it is expected that more such “public designations” will follow.

One of the obvious reasons for the sudden US activism in the Balkans is Russia, which has always had appetites for the region. The other, less visible one, is Turkey, which is no longer the reliable ally the US needs in the region. Washington needs reliable allies in the corrupt Balkans – and it seems to be getting them rather easily.

Related Articles

Wine Vision by Open Balkan 2024: A Celebration of Wine, Food, and Regional Cooperation

The third edition of the Wine Vision by Open Balkan fair, held in Belgrade, brought together winemakers, distillers, culinary experts, and wine enthusiasts from...

Robert Fico: Slovakia Will Never Betray Serbia on the Kosovo Issue

Slovakia and Serbia can rely on each other, and Slovakia respects Serbia’s territorial integrity and will never betray Serbia regarding Kosovo, Slovak Prime Minister...

Serbia and Kazakhstan Sign Ten Agreements During President Tokayev’s Visit

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during his official visit to Belgrade, emphasized Serbia’s role as a reliable partner in the Balkans.  He highlighted growing bilateral cooperation...

Viktor Orban: Today, No Country Is More Important to Hungary’s Security than Serbia

Today, no country is more important to Hungary’s security—whether in terms of energy or otherwise—than Serbia, stated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after his...

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala Opens Czech House in Belgrade

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala opened the Czech House in Belgrade during an official visit to Serbia, highlighting that Czech centers are special places...

Giaufret States it’s Time to Intensify Reforms in Serbia

Serbia has confirmed that EU membership is its strategic goal, said the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, emphasizing the importance...

President Szújok: Hungary Will Do Everything to Help Serbia Become a Full EU Member Soon

Hungary will do everything it can to help Serbia achieve full EU membership as soon as possible, as long-term stability in the Balkans cannot...

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: EU is not complete without Serbia

Poland supports Serbia’s European path, and the European Union is not complete without Serbia, stated Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during an official visit...