Putin's Balkan Gambit: A New Front in Destabilizing the West
Authorities at the Kremlin are trying to open a new front in the battle against the West in the Balkans, warn experts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). They believe Putin's regime aims to use Serbia to destabilize the situation in Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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In an article in the "Wall Street Journal," authors Ivana Stradner and Mark Montgomery highlight that "while NATO marks its 75th anniversary, and as Putin faces more setbacks in Ukraine, Moscow seeks to open a new front in the Balkans."
The experts stress that Russia might not need to deploy its troops but could instead rely on Serbia, potentially leading to a surge of violence and instability.
"Belgrade and Moscow are preparing a second campaign of violence and provocation in 2024," the experts note, recalling last year's incidents where Serbia began amassing troops and equipment at the border with Kosovo.
Russia seeks more conflicts in Europe
The FDD experts detail a series of actions that might worsen the situation in the Western Balkans. These include Russian influence operations aimed at sparking armed conflicts. They also highlight Serbia's increase in defence spending as a sign of potential escalation preparations.
The experts also draw attention to Chinese arms shipments to Belgrade. They suggest this move could heighten tensions in the region and further increase conflict risk.
Stradner and Montgomery also discuss the potential for conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which they view as "on the brink of collapse" due to the risk of secession by the Republika Srpska - one of the country's three constituent parts. They remind readers of statements by the pro-Russian president of the RS, Milorad Dodik, who last year expressed his ambition to be "the first president of an independent Republika Srpska".
