July 24, 2023
The US Is Indispensable in the Western Balkans — for Now
This June marked twenty years since the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, where EU leaders declared that the “future of the Balkans is within the European Union.”
Yet two decades later, EU membership for all Western Balkan countries but Croatia remains elusive, as the region struggles to overcome persistent ethnic tensions and implement necessary reforms for accession.
Active engagement from Washington now will allow the European Union to take over primary responsibility for the Balkans and lead without U.S. assistance in the future.
With EU enlargement back on the political agenda following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the West has an opportunity to revitalise its policy toward the Western Balkans. To capitalise on this renewed geopolitical momentum, greater leadership from the United States is key.
Read the full article from Euractiv.
More from CNAS
-
Former NATO Secretary Explains: What’s Next for Venezuela?
Video
The recent strikes leading to the capture of Nicolas Maduro have raised significant questions about the future of Venezuela. Jim Townsend, CNAS adjunct senior fellow and forme...
By Jim Townsend
-
Zelensky Heads to Trump Meeting with Canada, EU Support
Video
Jim Townsend, CNAS adjunct senior fellow and ex-deputy assistant for European and NATO policy, joined CTV News to discuss the demands Zelensky faces from Trump. Watch the ful...
By Jim Townsend
-
Ukraine Negotiations: Prospects and Pitfalls of Peace
Podcast
This week Brussels Sprouts breaks down the latest negotiations on Ukraine. American officials told reporters that they had resolved or closed gaps around 90 percent of their d...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
-
Can the Global Order Be Saved? Not Without Punishing Russia
Commentary
The only way to succeed in the urgent task of achieving a just peace settlement, therefore, is radically reshaping Russia’s calculus....
By Nicholas Lokker
