The UK government has significantly reduced funding aimed at countering Russian influence and disinformation in the Western Balkans. Around 40% of the budget allocated to the region has been cut, despite the area being described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as vital to the United Kingdom’s national security.
British funding for the Western Balkans has been reduced from £40 million last year to £24 million for the 2025–2026 period. The funds were intended to address threats linked to Russian aggression, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns in the region.
The cuts affect the Integrated Security Fund (ISF), which is designed to tackle the most serious threats to the UK’s national security, both domestically and internationally.
“The Western Balkans region includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Last year, ISF funding was used to counter malicious cyberattacks, support democratic institutions, and strengthen independent media in the region,” The Guardian reports.
According to official data, Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the Western Balkans has been reduced from £31.9 million to £17 million, while non-development funding has also been cut. These measures are part of the UK government’s plan to reduce development aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income by 2027.
The Chair of the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Emily Thornberry, warned that the Western Balkans are on the front line of confrontation with Russian disinformation. She stressed that more support for independent media is needed—not less—since citizens face growing difficulties in accessing reliable information.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations have also expressed concern, warning that the cuts risk weakening conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts in a fragile region.
The UK government, however, stated that these figures represent only part of the United Kingdom’s total investment in the Western Balkans, emphasizing that ISF funding fluctuates in line with national security priorities.
