Rethinking NATO engagement in the Western Balkans
Publisher: NATO Defense College
Volume: 5 pages, pdf
Description:
Recently NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a possible frontier for Russian activities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 1 These activities, best illustrated by the threat from the Russian ambassador to Sarajevo of a Ukrainian scenario should BiH seek NATO membership, raises an important question: why is BiH of particular importance to the Euro-Atbusiness for NATO and for countries in the region that have recognized NATO integration as a strategic goal. Second, other actors, primarily Russia and China, have established interests that compete with NATO’s engagement in the Western Balkans. Third, the interests of these external actors undermine Euro-Atlantic se- - the Western Balkans in order to prevent the possible returne of the conflict to the region.