U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen has warned that Russia has an interest in destabilizing the Western Balkans, describing Serbia as a “way station” in connection with alleged Russian activities in the region.
In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Shaheen said Washington must ensure that Russia understands that U.S. forces in the region remain on high alert and are closely monitoring developments.
Shaheen, a senior Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said concerns over possible instability involving Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are linked, in her assessment, to relations between Serbia, Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska and Russia.
“Russia sees this as a potential second front, and we need to do everything we can to preserve stability in the region,” Shaheen said, according to RFE/RL.
She pointed to NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo and the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing that Washington should make clear that these forces are closely monitoring the situation and remain prepared to respond to developments.
Shaheen also said the United States and its European allies need to counter what she described as Russian hybrid warfare wherever possible, arguing that such efforts are in the interests of both Washington and its European partners.
Serbia and the Leipzig Incident
Shaheen also referred to an incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, saying that Serbia had served as a “way station” for Russians allegedly involved in the incident.
“We just had a hearing today in the Foreign Relations Committee, and one of the issues that came up was the fact that Serbia has served as a way station for the Russians when they did their attack in Leipzig. They then came back to Serbia,” she told RFE/RL.
RFE/RL noted that German authorities are investigating suspected Russian intelligence involvement in an August drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport. German media have reported that a suspect later traveled to Serbia. The available reporting does not establish the full circumstances of the alleged connection.
In a separate statement this week, Shaheen said Russian activities were increasingly testing European and NATO security, citing the Leipzig/Halle incident among cases attributed by German authorities to Russia.
Her comments came as the U.S. Congress advanced new legislation targeting Russia’s revenues and foreign actors supporting Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Shaheen has also urged Washington and its European allies to strengthen efforts against Russian hybrid activities.
