The West Launches a Diplomatic Offensive in Central Europe

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was in Bulgaria on Jan. 15 as part of a diplomatic offensive Western leaders have launched in Central and Eastern Europe. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond arrived in Sofia the day before Kerry's visit, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland traveled to Romania on Jan. 14 before joining Kerry in Bulgaria. On Jan. 7, Kerry met with his Polish counterpart, Grzegorz Schetyna, in Washington, and on Jan. 8, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel held talks with Slovak Defense Minister Martin Glvac. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is scheduled to visit Bulgaria by the end of January, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly is scheduled to visit Hungary on Feb. 2.

Central and Eastern European countries are significant for Western policymakers because of their locations, ability to influence sanctions policy within the European Union and status as destinations for strategic Western investment. The diplomatic focus on Central Europe signals that Western governments are working to boost ties in the region and to take advantage of Russia's economic challenges to gain a stronger position in the ongoing competition for influence in the borderland countries.