Former Albanian President Ilir Meta calls on President Biden to prioritize the Balkans, amidst concerns that the region is being neglected in favor of Ukraine and Israel. Meta warns that Russia is seeking to expand its influence in the area, potentially undermining NATO and European values.
Albania's former President Ilir Meta has expressed deep concern over the United States' waning attention to the Western Balkans, urging President Biden to prioritize the region amid ongoing challenges and potential threats from Russia.
Meta, who served as president from 2017 to 2022, highlighted the crucial contributions that Albania, a staunch NATO ally, has made to US foreign policy goals. Despite its significant pro-US sentiment, Albania has received minimal attention from the Biden administration, which is currently focused on supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion and backing Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Meta emphasized that the Balkans is suffering from the status quo, with outside actors like Russia attempting to hinder the region's integration into the EU and NATO. He warned that Russia is deliberately creating a vacuum to be filled by them, undermining European foundations and values.
The former president's concerns stem from the recent appointment of Aleksandar Vulin, a Serbian politician with close ties to Russia, to Serbia's new government. Vulin, who is sanctioned by the US for alleged involvement in organized crime, narcotics operations, and misuse of public office, is seen as a sign that Serbia is not abandoning its pro-Russian stance despite seeking EU membership.
The "Open Balkans" initiative, a proposal that would facilitate the free flow of people and goods across the Balkans, has also raised concerns among some observers. Meta views it as an alternative to European integration, potentially strengthening hybrid regimes like Serbia that could undermine free and fair elections, political pluralism, and media freedom.
Former Albanian ambassador to the US and the United Nations, Agim Nesho, echoes Meta's concerns, describing Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Rama as "the most undemocratic, corrupt, and destabilizing leaders the region has seen in 30 years." Nesho argues that US appeasement of Serbia's disruptive policies allows Vucic to destabilize Bosnia-Herzegovina and keep the northern Kosovo region as a frozen conflict, highlighting a lack of clear US strategy.
Serbia's Foreign Minister Marko Djuric rejected such criticism, emphasizing Serbia's commitment to EU integration and cooperation with the US. He stated that President Vucic has publicly declared Serbia's intention to remain on the European path as its strategic position.
Russia continues to exert significant cultural and political influence in the Balkans, inciting violence and instability. Serbia serves as the Kremlin's proxy in expanding its regional prominence, leveraging crises in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina to divert attention from Ukraine and position Russia as the sole mediator.
Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warns that Russia's plan aims to strengthen Moscow's regional influence and give Putin leverage over Western powers concerned with escalating violence.
Meta concluded by expressing the Balkans' deep admiration for the US as a symbol of democracy. He urged the country to never forget its importance and Albania's potential as a long-term partner in addressing global challenges.
