NATO in the Balkans: Consequences and Perspectives

Proroković, Dušan (2023) NATO in the Balkans: Consequences and Perspectives. In: Eurasian Security After NATO. Institute of International Politics and Economics; Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Belgrade; Moscow, pp. 183-205. ISBN 978-86-7067-317-5

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Abstract

Despite the fact that the Balkan states, excluding Greece and Turkey, were not members of NATO during the Cold War period, this military alliance has maintained a high level of interest in the Balkan region. The Balkans represents a contact zone between Europe and the Middle East, and, in this context, it is seen as a bridge connecting a broad strategic line from the Baltic in the North to Anatolia in the South in this post-Cold War unipolar system. With a more aggressive approach and a number of initiatives, NATO has managed to create deep influence in the Balkans and become a key factor in regional security. Nevertheless, NATO is facing numerous challenges that threaten its position in the Balkans and create problems for the perspectives in the region. Some of those challenges were created by NATO’s bad estimates and wrong approach in previous decades. First among those challenges is the issue of Kosovo. In light of the ongoing transformation of the structure of the world political system, this issue is taking on a totally new dimension. This paper consists of five parts. After the introductory part, where the goals of the research are described, there is a second part that explains the reasons why NATO has a long-term interest in the Balkans and how that has manifested in NATO’s role during the civil war in Yugoslavia. The third part is dedicated to NATO’s expansion in the Balkans, and the fourth part is dedicated to deliberations on the consequences and perspectives of that process. The fifth part is concluding remarks, including predictions of future events after the escalation of the Ukraine crisis.

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