Serbia Looks West to Weaken Russia's Energy Dominance

The West is boosting its efforts to counter Russia's energy-fueled influence in the Balkans. During the first week of June, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will visit Washington, where he will reportedly meet with U.S. officials. Vucic's trip follows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's May 15 visit to Serbia, as well as Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic's attendance at the Moscow Victory Day Parade on May 9. Serbia maintains close economic and political ties with Russia, but over the past weeks Serbian policymakers have signaled that Belgrade's energy strategy is evolving. As Russia and the West continue to compete for influence in the Balkans, Serbia's orientation will ultimately hinge upon the European Union's willingness to finance energy and infrastructure projects in the country.