Members of Congress and senior American officials, as well as members of European and Western Balkans parliaments, expressed concern on Wednesday about the detrimental influence of Russia and China in the Western Balkans. They discussed this issue at a forum in the U.S. Congress.
Participants stated that Russia and China are attempting to increase their influence through political interference and disinformation in the case of Moscow, and primarily through economic and infrastructural investments in the case of Beijing.
They emphasized the need to strengthen coordination between the U.S. and their allies with Western Balkan countries. They also spoke about the necessity of the region’s integration.
Republican member of Congress, Pete Sessions, one of the discussion’s organizers, told Voice of America that Russia has been trying to destabilize the Balkans for years, and it’s clear that it uses disinformation and force when it wants to achieve its goals.
“The destabilization of the Balkans (by Moscow) is something that each of the countries there sees, and they see that not only is it happening, but there are deliberate efforts to undermine these countries,” he said.
Sessions says that the United States and Western organizations must support the stability of the region.
“The EU, NATO, and the United States need to stand together and forcefully say, ‘we support these countries and will stand with them’. That’s what these countries need: for the United States to stand strongly by their side,” he said.
His colleague, Republican member of Congress, Robert B. Aderholt, expressed concern that Russia’s and China’s campaign for influence is growing and for this reason…
“… the countries of the Balkans today are more critical than ever for partnership with the United States and there must be a unified stance against negative influences,” he said.
Naz Durakoğlu, Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, emphasized that the United States is very concerned about the influence of China and Russia in the region, firstly through infrastructure and secondly through gas and disinformation, and their focus is against NATO and the United States.
“We use foreign aid to help integrate Western Balkan countries into the EU and with each other,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of reforms, the fight against corruption, and strengthening democracy.
Balkan issues analyst Edward Joseph told Voice of America that he reminded Congress members and American officials how important the Balkans are.
“This region is part of Putin’s strategy. He wants to divide Europe from the United States and wants to divide Europe within itself and the Balkans is a key way to do so,” he said.
Joseph emphasized that for Moscow, influencing the Balkans comes at a low cost but with great consequences and said that Russia has Serbia’s assistance in its efforts. But he said the cards are in the hands of the West for the direction of the region.
“We hold the cards, the West, the United States, the European Union, NATO. It’s different from Ukraine. Russia is too far to bring ground forces. NATO members surround the Balkans. All countries in the region, except Serbia, want to join NATO,” he said.
In a reminder of the geopolitical situation the world faces today and the challenges it confronts, Ukraine’s representative at this forum, deputy Alex Goncharenko, called for continued assistance to his country, in a time of debate in the Capitol, where the process for approving further assistance for the fight against Russia has stalled.
