Albanian Politics
NATO has expressed worries over Russia’s presence in the Western Balkans. The region is a crossing point where conflicts of interest have turned out violent since 1992. The corruption problem in the countries where most of the Albanian population lives such as Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Montenegro has made it quite impossible for them to become members of the EU. Thus, adherence has become quite a nightmare. On the other hand, Serbia’s reluctance to adhere in NATO due to the old ties with Russia is a threat to the fragile stability in the region.
The Western Balkans is flooded with conflicts and existential crises. The lack of stability has enabled Russia to increase its influence at very low costs.
NATO’s skepticism about a few of its members in the Western Balkans points out the danger the corrupted political elite poses for the political and economic stability in the region. Russia's presence in the Western Balkans - the report mentions- provides an opportunity for some elites to play off the great powers and to use the presence of one to gain concessions from the other.
The dangerous game the political elites are playing can put the whole region in unpredictable situations and does not serve at all the stability in the region. A Russian presence in the Western Balkans means ethnic and religious conflicts might rise in the future. Furthermore, the strengthening of the pro-Russian countries such as Serbia can yield a military challenge for NATO.
Some of the Western Balkan countries - ruled by their political elites- have asked the EU to lessen the requirement for accession. On that note, not much has been done. Au contraire, the EU seems to put more pressure every time the negotiations are up for discussion. This type of attitude toward Western Balkans fits into Russia’s broader narrative -continues the report: “ Russia seems to offer a more indulgent kind of friendship which can be particularly rewarding to elites who share its geopolitical vision and who, not coincidentally, profit from the current stasis.”
Sources: (Richard Benyon: NATO July 2017)
NATO has expressed worries over Russia’s presence in the Western Balkans. The region is a crossing point where conflicts of interest have turned out violent since 1992. The corruption problem in the countries where most of the Albanian population lives such as Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Montenegro has made it quite impossible for them to become members of the EU. Thus, adherence has become quite a nightmare. On the other hand, Serbia’s reluctance to adhere in NATO due to the old ties with Russia is a threat to the fragile stability in the region.
The Western Balkans is flooded with conflicts and existential crises. The lack of stability has enabled Russia to increase its influence at very low costs.
NATO’s skepticism about a few of its members in the Western Balkans points out the danger the corrupted political elite poses for the political and economic stability in the region. Russia's presence in the Western Balkans - the report mentions- provides an opportunity for some elites to play off the great powers and to use the presence of one to gain concessions from the other.
The dangerous game the political elites are playing can put the whole region in unpredictable situations and does not serve at all the stability in the region. A Russian presence in the Western Balkans means ethnic and religious conflicts might rise in the future. Furthermore, the strengthening of the pro-Russian countries such as Serbia can yield a military challenge for NATO.
Some of the Western Balkan countries - ruled by their political elites- have asked the EU to lessen the requirement for accession. On that note, not much has been done. Au contraire, the EU seems to put more pressure every time the negotiations are up for discussion. This type of attitude toward Western Balkans fits into Russia’s broader narrative -continues the report: “ Russia seems to offer a more indulgent kind of friendship which can be particularly rewarding to elites who share its geopolitical vision and who, not coincidentally, profit from the current stasis.”
Sources: (Richard Benyon: NATO July 2017)