Former Montenegrin President Milo Đukanović delivered a lecture today at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, warning about the fragile situation in the Western Balkans. Speaking on the topic “Regional Relations and Geopolitical Challenges in the Western Balkans,” Đukanović issued a strong caution that without a clear European perspective, the region risks sliding back into conflicts and destructive nationalism.
“Europe today lacks the will and strategic courage to complete the continent’s unification,” Đukanović stated. He added that Balkan states have lost their vision, are overwhelmed by their own incompetence, and have forgotten necessary reforms. In this vacuum, dangerous ideologies from the past are flourishing, and stability is not guaranteed. The Western Balkans remain trapped in a cycle of repeating history.
Đukanović highlighted the resurgence of nationalism and accused Montenegro of facing brutal attacks from the ‘Greater Serbia’ project, a modern form of ideology which threatens not only Montenegro but also Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. He stressed that Montenegro’s state and national identity are under threat, as attempts are made to incorporate the country into a so-called ‘Serbian world’, which he described as destabilizing for the entire region.
The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) was identified by Đukanović as a powerful tool of Belgrade’s nationalist politics and a key agent of Russian influence in the region. He said that the SPC has played a major role in political changes in Montenegro, taking on roles formerly held by the army and secret services. Recalling the 2016 coup attempt in Montenegro, Đukanović said it was orchestrated by Russian intelligence with support from elements in Belgrade to prevent Montenegro’s NATO membership. Although that attempt failed, he warned that the offensive intensified in 2020, describing it as a dangerous geopolitical project with potentially severe consequences if timely action is not taken.
Concluding his remarks, Đukanović said the Western Balkans is at a historic crossroads and emphasized that war is possible if stability is not preserved. He issued a strong warning against any attempts to revise the Dayton Agreement, calling such moves ‘playing with fire.’
