Serbia's Balance Becomes Harder to Maintain

Serbia's position as a borderland country under the constant influence of powerful external players has once again put it in the middle of conflicting interests. In recent weeks, the Serbian government has struggled to maintain a balance between EU wishes for Belgrade to join the bloc's sanctions against Russia and Belgrade's strategy of keeping close ties with Moscow.

Belgrade will be forced to continue this delicate balance in the coming months and years. It will move forward with its plans to enter the European Union, but it will try to preserve its strategic ties with Russia. As the negotiations with the European Union progress, Belgrade will come under increasing pressure to choose sides. However, with no real prospects of entering the European Union anytime soon — the bloc is not likely to accept Serbia this decade — Belgrade still has room for maneuver.