Four Points for US Action in Balkans

The Atlantic Council released the report on the new American strategy for the Balkans with the title “Balkan ahead: New US strategy for the” region.

It proposes the permanent American military presence in Southeast Europe, the commitment to historic “ ” with Serbia, and renewed US reputation as a real mediator.

According to the Atlantic Council assessment in the region, notable progress has been achieved -- Slovenia and Croatia are already members of NATO and the EU -- and Albania and Montenegro are attached to NATO.

The US has a key role for common vision for the region and co-ordination with the EU again would set the path clear towards the common transatlantic goal at the political level, the Atlantic Council estimates. Some concrete steps that the US must take to help stabilise the region are reportedly needed.

The Atlantic Council believes the US should establish a permanent military presence in Southeast Europe, which would have shown a continued commitment to achieve security in the region and allow itself for long-term impact on the development of events. Camp Bondsteel is ideal for this, says the report.

Soldiers must also help strengthen local authorities' capacities to combat terrorism through training and exchange of best practices, as well as help in humanitarian disasters, but it will also need to send a clear signal to the region that the United States is committed to preventing the revision of existing borders, which, allegedly, is inspired by Russian adventures.

The report suggests that the US should try to achieve historic proximity to Serbia.

Belgrade can and should be a close partner and ally in the region, but it can only become important if it starts to distance itself from Russia, according to the Atlantic Council.

The US needs to regain the reputation of a true mediator who, among other things, must make an additional effort to prepare Athens and Skopje in the future to become allies, and join the EU in its efforts to encourage talks between Belgrade and Pristina as soon as it is completed.

Attention should be dedicated to entrepreneurs and young people in the region.

None of these moves make sense without paying attention to the long-term economic prospects of the region and the young, the report says.

The US must re-enlist with its European partners to create great economic opportunities for people from the region by reducing regional trade reduction to encourage investments in the digital sphere.

The European Union is and will remain a major player in the Western Balkans, with much more resources, tools, human resources and political attention in the region than the US, emphasises the Atlantic Council and adds that the US must retain a special authority that can be used to improve the security of the region, so that it does not become an exporter of serious problems or conflicts.

The US could channel positive strategic results that would pave the way for the more secure and prosperous region, says the report by the Atlantic Council of the new American Strategy for the Balkans called “Balkani ahead: New American strategy for” region