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Demonstrators in Belgrade, Serbia, hold up Serbian flags and a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 24, 2022, during a rally in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Military & Security

Politics

In the second part of this series, we explore China and Russia's interests in the Balkans and what their activities may mean for the region's long-term stability.

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 2: Russian and Chinese Influence

Greece

Slovenia

NATO soldiers patrol a roadblock set up by ethnic Serbs near Zubin Potok, a town in northern Kosovo, on Aug. 1, 2022. 

Economics

Social Issues

Despite ethnically-tinged tensions between Kosovo and Serbia that most recently made the news, there appear to be numerous restraints on a potential return to widespread regional conflict. 

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 1: Placing Recent Flashpoints in Context

Assessments

United States

An external view of the building of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. 

Environment, Science & Technology

European Disintegration

As COVID-19 forces the EU to remain focused on recovering (and not enlarging) its economy, candidate countries such as Serbia risk veering away from the reforms they had been pursuing to earn their place in the bloc.

What the Fading Promise of EU Accession Means for the Balkans

COVID-19

EU: Regional Blocs

The New Silk Road

Divided EU Foreign Policies

2020 Second-Quarter Forecast

Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.

<p>To the west of Eurasia lays Europe, a region predisposed to division. It is surrounded on nearly all sides by islands and peninsulas that make it difficult for Europe to cohere. The northern half of the continent, moreover, sits on a plain whose short, meandering rivers tend to empower countries without forcing them to work with others. The southern half is situated on more mountainous terrain that has historically impeded the creation of strong, unified economies. As a result, Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.</p>

2020 Annual Forecast

2019 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2019 Third-Quarter Forecast

2019 Second-Quarter Forecast

Snapshots

Romania

Significant proportions of citizens in the Balkans region of Europe think more needs to be done to make their governments more transparent and less corrupt. 

Demonstrators in Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania have recently taken to the streets to decry the opaque nature of their governments and media.

Balkans: Disparate Protests Share a Common Demand for More Openness

2019 Annual Forecast

2018 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2018 Second-Quarter Forecast

Montenegro’s finance minister Milojko Spajic announced on June 17 that European financial institutions had almost completed plans to refinance over $800 million of debt owed to China for a 2014 highway project associated with Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, Reuters has reported. 

Montenegro: Government Finalizing Plans With Europe to Refinance China Debt

A man threw a grenade at the U.S. Embassy compound in Podgorica, before blowing himself up with a second grenade, DW reported Feb. 22.

Montenegro: Man Throws Grenade At U.S. Embassy Overnight, Commits Suicide

Security

Czech Republic

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Bulgaria

Poland

Slovakia

Hungary

China in Transition

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced that Sofia will host the 2018 16+1 summit of Central and Eastern European countries and China, Euractiv reported Nov. 28.

Hungary: Bulgaria Announces It Will Host 2018 '16+1' Trade Summit

The Fate of the Eurozone

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Russian authorities on Nov. 1 said the country will not extradite Ananije Nikic, who is accused in Montenegro of participating in an alleged coup attempt, RFE/RL reported. 

Russia: Authorities Reject Montenegro's Request To Extradite Suspect In Coup Attempt

Georgia

Echoes of the Cold War

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence ended a two-day visit to Estonia on July 31 during which he affirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO and expressed interest in deploying Patriot surface-to-air missiles in the region, Radio Free Europe reported.

Estonia: U.S. Vice President Supports Patriot Missiles In Baltic States

The Ukraine Conflict

France

Germany

Spain

Military

President Donald Trump approved Montenegro's accession to NATO on April 11, AFP reported. NATO foreign ministers formally invited Montenegro to start talks on joining the 28-member military alliance in December 2015.

U.S.: White House Approves Montenegro’s NATO Accession

NATO

The U.S. Senate approved Montenegro's bid to join NATO on March 28, the Financial Times reported March 29. 

U.S.: Senate Approves Montenegro Joining NATO

Terrorism and Security

Kommersant sources said that Russian Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev's Oct. 25 surprise visit to Serbia was tied to the earlier deportation of Russian citizens, according to an Oct. 28 report. 

Montenegro: Russian Visit To Serbia Tied To Mysterious Deportations

Afghanistan

Algeria

Antigua and Barbuda

Luxembourg

South Sudan

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Angola

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Bahrain

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Barbados

Benin

Egypt

Maldives

Malta

Ukraine

Belize

Botswana

Brunei Darussalam

India

Iran

Tajikistan

Bhutan

Bolivia

Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Iraq

The President palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The administrative center of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, on the river Kurhumchai.

Brazil

Burundi

Finland

Israel

Nepal

Cameroon

Canada

Jordan

Pakistan

Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

Cabo Verde

Chile

Federated States of Micronesia

Kuwait

Liechtenstein

Sri Lanka

Central African Republic

Colombia

Fiji

Lebanon

Chad

Costa Rica

Indonesia

Libya

Comoros

Cuba

Japan

A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Morocco

Cote d'Ivoire

Denmark

Dominica

Kiribati

Moldova

Oman

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominican Republic

Laos

Palestinian Territories

Djibouti

Ecuador

Holy See (Vatican City)

Malaysia

Qatar

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Marshall Islands

Saudi Arabia

Eritrea

Grenada

Mongolia

Female

Male

The European Commission has a strategy to offer EU membership to a half-dozen countries in the Western Balkans, but it won't happen anytime soon. 

EU: Brussels Promises Membership To Six Countries, Someday

Global Perspectives

Partner Perspectives

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's good rapport with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker may partly explain Juncker's recent calls to admit Serbia and Montenegro to the European Union by 2025.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is pushing to admit Serbia and Montenegro to the European Union. But are the Western Balkan countries ready for accession?

EU Expansion Receives an Unlikely Boost

SITUATION REPORTS

Montenegro: Government Finalizing Plans With Europe to Refinance China Debt

Montenegro: Man Throws Grenade At U.S. Embassy Overnight, Commits Suicide

Hungary: Bulgaria Announces It Will Host 2018 '16+1' Trade Summit

Russia: Authorities Reject Montenegro's Request To Extradite Suspect In Coup Attempt

Estonia: U.S. Vice President Supports Patriot Missiles In Baltic States

U.S.: White House Approves Montenegro’s NATO Accession

U.S.: Senate Approves Montenegro Joining NATO

Montenegro: Russian Visit To Serbia Tied To Mysterious Deportations

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