March 18, 2024 | The Wall Street Journal
Putin Wants War in the Balkans
Russia is exploiting ethnic tensions as Serbia threatens violence against Kosovo and secessionists threaten a Bosnian collapse.
March 18, 2024 | The Wall Street Journal
Putin Wants War in the Balkans
Russia is exploiting ethnic tensions as Serbia threatens violence against Kosovo and secessionists threaten a Bosnian collapse.
Excerpt
As all eyes are on Ukraine, another conflict is brewing in Europe. Three decades after the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia, recent clashes between Serbia and Kosovo have reignited lingering ethnic conflicts. While Serbia is driving events on the ground, Moscow is fanning the flames.
Vladimir Putin has been candid about his desire to weaken the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and restore Russia to its historical borders. But with Russian forces suffering losses in Ukraine, Moscow has much to gain by fostering trouble elsewhere on the Continent. The right regional crisis would give the Kremlin an opportunity to gain local influence through arms dealing and mediation, while diverting attention from Ukraine and giving Russia leverage over Western leaders.
Ms. Stradner is a research fellow and RADM (Ret.) Montgomery a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.