Security in the western balkans after the start of Russian aggression in Ukraine

Abstract

Security continues to remain a crucial issue in the Western Balkans region, even after the end of inter-ethnic wars and conflicts for nearly two decades. After the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Balkan region, despite the presence of NATO forces in almost all these countries, there is a fear of eventual conflict, and this stems directly from the Russian influence that has had and continues to have in this region. In this regard, given the role that Russia has had, and still has, in the Western Balkans, it is natural to fear the eventual instigation of conflict in this region as well, even more so, when the strong ties between Serbia and Russia are known, as and the continued feeding of its population by nationalisms and hatreds towards other nations in the Western Balkans. However, the presence of NATO, and the role of the states of this region, excluding Serbia, during these months from the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, made us come to the conclusion that the beginning of any eventual conflict in this region is almost impossible.