(Un)Shielded: Russia’s Influence in the Western Balkans Through the Kosovo-Serbia Open Dispute

The Western Balkan region has long been a ‘chessboard’ for geopolitical games between Russia and the West. A prolonged EU membership process for the region and current enlargement fatigue provide a unique opportunity for Russia to strengthen its position in the region still further, thereby undermining EU and NATO roles. As such, the Western Balkans remains a vulnerable region on the periphery of Europe where Russia can extend its influence, strengthen alliances with specific countries, gain supporters and maximise its leverage, even to the point of competing with the West. While Russian economic investment cannot compete with EU investments and funds dedicated to the region, Russian propaganda media outlets in some countries (for instance, Serbia) portray the EU as weak, inefficient and politically unable to deliver in the Western Balkans. This propaganda campaign has been highly effective due to the EU’s inability to be more vocal in its promotion of assistance provided to the Western Balkans.