The accession of Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina into NATO would permanently curb Serbia and Russia’s influence in the Western Balkans, according to experts at a Harvard University panel on the region.
During a discussion hosted by the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard, panelists emphasized how Moscow’s continued support for Belgrade fuels regional instability.
Russia’s Role in Destabilizing the Balkans
Albulena Kastrati, a professor at Duke University, highlighted Russia’s ongoing efforts to back Serbia in its attempts to destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina and undermine Kosovo’s statehood.
“Russia continuously supports Serbia’s efforts to destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina and deny Kosovo’s sovereignty. The transactional approach of the EU and the U.S. towards Serbia—through military deals with France, lithium agreements with Germany, and arms sales to Ukraine—has only emboldened Belgrade, which remains the only country in Europe that has not imposed sanctions on Russia,” Kastrati stated.
She further noted that two Russian banks continue to operate in Serbia, facilitating unrestricted financial transactions between Moscow and Belgrade. Meanwhile, the EU’s reluctance to prioritize enlargement has left the Balkans vulnerable to Russian influence.
Geopolitical Crossroads for the Balkans
Flora Ferati-Sachsenmaier, a researcher on identity politics at Harvard University, emphasized that Western Balkan countries find themselves at a critical geopolitical juncture.
“With the EU wavering on enlargement, Moscow and Beijing have stepped in, leveraging soft power, economic influence, and political maneuvers. Their grip is strengthened by local autocratic leaders like Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić and Republika Srpska’s Milorad Dodik, who act as key partners in obstructing the region’s EU path,” she said.
Growing Russian and Chinese Investments Pose Risks
Pëllumb Çitaku, a scholar at Harvard specializing in Russian and Eurasian studies, warned that increasing Chinese and Russian investments in key strategic sectors—such as energy, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure—in Republika Srpska, Serbia, and Montenegro pose significant economic and geopolitical risks for the region.
With Western hesitation on enlargement and integration, experts argue that securing Kosovo and Bosnia’s NATO membership would act as a crucial step in countering Russian and Serbian influence in the Balkans.
