Due to strategic importance of its geopolitical location making the area a crossroad of Europe and Asia, the Balkanik countries have often been occupied and remain a sought-after destination for many. Superpowers like Russia, the USA or China have made their best efforts to have their influence on the peninsula with a population over 75 million people.
By Rovena Cerka, Senior Correspondent, Europe
a 5 mins read.
What is a Peninsula?
A peninsula is a landform that has three water-surrounded sides, usually extends into a body of water, and is distinguished by the narrow strip of land known as an “isthmus” that connects it to a larger continent. There are peninsulas all over the world, and the Balkan Peninsula is well-known and well-liked by travelers just like anyplace else. The majority of tourists to the Balkan Peninsulas come from Europe, Central Asia, and North America. These tourists mostly look for cultural and historical sites and of course, the pure pearl beauty that nature gave to this region. Hospitality and tasty food attract travelers and make the Balkans a desirable destination for people from all over the globe landing them in Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, Greece’s islands, Albania’s undiscovered beaches and mountains, or Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor.
Despite the Peninsula’s unique appeal, still the region appears to face a myriad of challenges that have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This region is located in southeastern Europe and is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the south of Italy, the Ionian in the southwest, and the Aegean Sea south-facing Italy. On its east side is bordered by the Black Sea and the Danube River. Countries included in the Peninsula are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey and Greece.
Russia and Serbia have a strong tie with each other, the reason why Serbia has always had the Kremlin’s support on Bosnia Herzegovina’s genocide and the bombing of Kosovo.
Strategic Importance
Having such strategic importance due to its geopolitical location and making the area a crossroad of Europe and Asia, the Balkanik countries have often been occupied and remain a sought-after destination for many.
Although having control over these countries by occupying them seems to not be an option anymore due to alliances the countries have and protecting themselves the international laws and convents, superpowers like Russia, the USA or China make their best efforts to have their influence on the peninsula with a population over 75 million people.
Although Russian influence is tracked back to the 19th century when the Russian Empire supported the independence movements of some of the Balkanik countries from the Ottoman Empire, nowadays things haven’t changed much.
The Russian Federation appears to have tight relations with non-European Union member countries. Although the economic, political, cultural, and investment sectors may appear distinct, they are intricately linked due to significant Russian influence in the region. This dominance becomes more significant in countries such as Serbia, Republica Srpcka (one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
Russia and Serbia have a strong tie with each other, the reason why Serbia has always had the Kremlin’s support on Bosnia Herzegovina’s genocide and the bombing of Kosovo. Of course, Moscow condemned the NATO bombing of Serbia and opposed Kosovo’s independence. In 1994 and 2015 two UN Security Council resolutions condemning violence by Bosnian Serbs.
An Alarm
Peter Stano, European Commission (EC) lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy is crystal clear when asked about the EC’s stance on the close relationship between Russia and Serbia and Russia and Republika Srpska.
“Maintaining or even developing more ties with Russia in times of its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine is not compatible with EU values and the European Union accession process. The European Union wants to count on all candidate countries as reliable European partners for common principles, values, security and prosperity.”
“Bosnia and Herzegovina has fully aligned with EU foreign policy, including restrictive measures decisions. These measures must be applied to BiH as a whole, including in the entity of Republika Srpska. In the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, we expect Bosnia and Herzegovina – at all levels, states, and entities – to refrain from deepening its relations with Russia, which is the aggressor, violating the UN Charter and defying international law.”
Through the Covid 19 pandemic, Russia created the Sputnic Vaccine, and the Balkanic population felt left behind by the West and as a sign of revenge appeared to start a flirtatious relationship with the Russian Federation.
The Russian embassy published this letter directed to the adviser of Albania’s prime minister. Just a few days after Sputnik published the approval of the Albanian health ministry even if Albania itself tried to hide the information, the government paid more than 550,000 euros for the vaccines and their transportation. Although many countries have accepted donations from the Russians, it was considered “The politics of vaccine”.
On the other hand, Russian speculations have expanded in the locale generally concentrated in the vitality division. Numerous political partners in the Balkans such as the president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, or the President of Serbia, Aleksander Vucic. On January 2023 Dodik granted Putin the arrangement of Republika Srpska for his back for the Dayton Assertion, agreeing to him, much appreciated to which the creation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was made.
Russian Energy Supplies
Aleksander Vucic announced on May 2022 that Serbia and Russia had signed a new three-year agreement gas contract while European Union Countries and almost all the rest of the world put an embargo on Russia as a punishment for the invasion of Ukraine. The Albanian Publicist Ben Andoni says in this exclusive interview for “The News Analytics Journal” that Europe is facing an alarm that cannot be ignored.
“(…) Vuçic has irritated both Russia and many of its supporters by joining the UN resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine and refusing to recognize Russian annexation. At the same time, Vuçiq angered EU leaders by refusing to join the regime of comprehensive sanctions. While the EU pressured for comprehensive bans on Russian energy supplies, Vuçiq signed a three-year gas supply agreement with Russia. In summary, life has become more difficult for the entire region and continent, while Europe is deeply alarmed about war, an alarm that can no longer be ignored.”
Serbia. North Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina are supplied with almost 100% of gas needs from the Russian Federation, according to the data of the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. On the flip side, Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia don’t consume Russian gas as the main source is the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)
While Serbia receives economic and political support, it particularly leverages Russia to gain advantages in dialogue with Kosovo and, in many cases, to get an edge over the West.
According to Adelina Hasani, a researcher at the Kosovo Center for Security Studies, Russia is using countries, as instruments to threaten the West. “Kosovo stands as an isolated example, having no diplomatic relations with Russia, which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence and supports Serbia against Kosovo in international forums and organizations. While BiH has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Republika Srpska refuses to sanction Russia.
While Serbia receives economic and political support, it particularly leverages Russia to gain advantages in dialogue with Kosovo and, in many cases, to get an edge over the West. There is also military and intelligence cooperation: Russia has established a “Humanitarian Center” close to Kosovo in southern Serbia, which is alleged of “preventing emergency humanitarian responses.”
On the other hand, the same approach is followed by Dodik in the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he leverages Russian support and receives political, military, and economic backing, particularly for the separation of Republika Srpska and threats towards the West”, Hasani said for “The News Analytics Journal”.
But still, in the private sector, many companies take place on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) all over the Balkans that have been contested by the opposition leaders. Oleg Deripaska became famous after the United States Of America declared him “non-grata” or Konstantin Valerevitsj Malofeev. Malofeev is a co-founder of the international investment fund Marshall Capital Partners, a member of the board of trustees of the non-profit partnership Safe Internet League, and chairman of the Saint Basil the Great Charitable Foundation.
He is also known for financially supporting and promoting pan-Slavic views and being against the “West” political perspective. Malofeev also founded a Russian Serbian Humanitarian Center in Nis, a town on the border with Kosovo. This nonprofit organization is alleged to be used as a potent instrument to influence the Balkanik Peninsula.
14th Package of Sanctions
Even nowadays, on June 15 European Union didn’t agree to approve the 14th package of sanctions against Russia. A debate that lasted over a month on the package included a ban on Russian LNG trans-shipments and a plan to make EU operators responsible for sanctions violations by subsidiaries and partners in third countries.
This package was agreed to be discussed on Friday, June 15, but was withdrawn at the last second from the agenda. It was expected from Hungary, Russia’s closest ally to deny the package but lately appeared to accept the sanctions. Meanwhile, Germany expressed reservations about the impact on its industry of the clause on third-country subsidiaries and partners.
Germany is currently hospitalizing a huge number of Ukrainian refugees but the international sanctions against Russia seem to affect directly and immediately its economy. In the beginning year of 2022, Germany imported more than 55% of its natural gas from Russia but the war created an immediate energy crisis. Germans had to pay an increase in their electric energy bill by 12%. According to the European Commission, it will only by 2027 that the reliance on Russian oil will come to an end.
(Ms Rovena Cerka is a distinguished journalist from Albania, renowned for her extensive tenure as a political reporter over numerous years. She persistently brings out compelling narratives and demonstrates excellence as an investigative writer.)
