Steinbaum: US sanction Serbia for military ties with Russia

Serbia voted in favour of the UN resolution condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine, but is continuing to resist Western pressure to impose sanctions against Moscow in an effort to maintain the balance between its European aspirations, partnership with NATO and centuries-old religious, ethnic and political ties with Russia.

But, along with tensions between the West and Russia, calls to Belgrade to harmonise its foreign policy with that of the European Union are increasing, the bloc intended to join.

Foreign policy and developments in the Balkans expert Jason Steinbaum says the US administration can use a law adopted in 2017 to impose Serbian sanctions because of the purchase of Russian weapons from Belgrade.

“Law says the president must issue sanctions to a country engaged in significant transactions with the army, or Russian intelligence services. Serbia has imported heavy arms from Russia following the adoption of this law. The law speaks in a binding language, saying the president will impose sanctions. So the law doesn't ask if there is, or whether there is will for sanctions”, Says Mr. Steinbaum about the Voice of America While adding that “as past administration, even this current one has not done so, despite legal obligation. The question is whether the law will be taken seriously and if Congress, which has approved it, will require such a”.

Over the years Serbia has imported a considerable number of weapons from Russia, buying six MiG-29 fighter planes, 30 T-72 tanks, 30 other armoured vehicles and the Pantsir S1 air defence system. In January of this year, a shipment of antitank Koornet missiles arrived from Russia to Serbia, while Belgrade has purchased four MiG-29s from Belarus.

Serbia's relations with Russia go beyond trade. The two countries have also carried out a series of joint military maneuvers.

Days ago Russian flags and pictures of President Vladimir Putin were seen on the streets of Belgrade, in a rare public display of support for Moscow following its attack on Ukraine.

“Some say that if Serbia is attached to sanctions against Russia, the protest could be twice as large. How long can they endure? Depends on the pressure the West can, or wants to exercise, and whether it is finally ready to tell Serbia that you cannot sit in two chairs at the same time”, Says Mr. Steinbaum.

The report between Kosovo and Serbia is seen as one of the most urgent issues in this part of Europe.

Russian officials have used Kosovo's case to justify annexing the Crimea and recognising two separatist regions east of Ukraine.

Kosovo has faced a genocide campaign in which its population has been deported, thousands and thousands have been killed and thousands of women have been violated. That didn't happen in Ukraine. I object to the whole heart comparison. NATO has acted based on a humanitarian tragedy, taking place in Kosovo, carried out by Milosevic. Ukrainians have not done the same in Crime and those regions. All claims coming from Moscow are fake”, Says German Hardy Marshall expert.

Days earlier, the Kosovo government founded the inter-initiative task force, aimed at accelerating Kosovo's membership in NATO amid concerns that Russia's aggression in Ukraine could foster the destabilisation of the Western Balkan region, a difficult and feasible goal, according to analyst Steinbaum.

“To join NATO needs the votes of all member states. There are four member states that do not recognise Kosovo. This poses a problem for Kosovo. But if we can do it, we have to do it because Kosovo has harmonised the foreign policy and security policy from the West, they are participating in peacekeeping missions with the United States, and they have provided as much support as they can for Ukraine”, Mr. Steinbaum said about the Voice of America.

It would be difficult for Russian troops to reach the Balkans without engaging NATO forces stationed in all neighbouring countries. But Moscow can destabilise the region, as it already does, with the help of its ally Serbia, says expert Steinbaum.

I wouldn't expect that since NATO has a presence there. However, developments in Serbia should be followed because they are linked between Serbia and Russia. Countries have been trained militarily for several years, especially with ruling President Vucic, and Russia has the largest presence there. This is something to be carefully followed”.

But he does not express such optimism about Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We should pay more attention to that region, because if there's a part where violence could erupt, I would say it could happen there”, He says.

Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to face deepening political crisis since the end of the 1990s wars in the Balkans, while Bosnian Serbs challenge state institutions under their long efforts to secede and join neighbouring Serbia. / VOA