Geopolitical Influences and NATO's Role in the Western

Abstract

The Western Balkans represent a strategically significant region for NATO, serving as a key node for security and stability in Europe and beyond. This article aims to examine the geopolitical dynamics and NATO’s role in the region, particularly in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the potential risk of conflict spillover. Such a strategy could be employed by Russia to divert international support away from Ukraine.

The analysis begins by assessing the geopolitical positioning of the Western Balkans, focusing on the influence of major global powers such as Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union. Russia, through hybrid strategies and diplomatic and economic influence, seeks to undermine NATO’s presence in the region and obstruct the integration of Balkan states into the EU. Meanwhile, China leverages infrastructure investments to establish economic dependencies, projecting its power and posing a challenge to the security of Western Balkan countries.

Additionally, the article explores the Western Balkans from NATO’s perspective, examining the Alliance’s long-standing commitments to regional stabilization, its enlargement process, and its role in ensuring security under NATO’s current Strategic Concept.

Ultimately, the article concludes that NATO remains the primary actor capable of ensuring stability in the Western Balkans. The Alliance plays a decisive role in advancing Euro-Atlantic integration and preventing future crises. To fulfill this role effectively, greater engagement from regional states is necessary, given the heightened security risks at both the regional and global levels.