ASSESSMENTS

The Problems Foreign Powers Find in the Balkans

May 19, 2015 | 09:00 GMT

Outside Powers Compete for Influence in the Balkans
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic (R) meets his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov when he arrives for a visit to Belgrade.

(ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP PHOTO)

Summary

Russia, Turkey and the West all share one rival in the Balkans: political instability. Located at the confluence of three historic empires, the strip of land between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea has long been the focus of competition among global powers. Now it is just one arena in the standoff between Russia and the West. Yet, with both sides attempting to buy influence with investments and energy projects, and with Turkey struggling to keep pace, internal political challenges threaten to undermine outside efforts to develop and shape the region. As major powers use their financial and political clout to gain influence in the Balkans, weak local governments will continue to balance among competing nations. 

Despite investments flowing in from multiple countries, internal state politics is a barrier to external influence in the region. ...

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