US militarily assists Western Balkan countries, except Serbia

It is not yet known how much money other Western Balkan countries will receive, which, apart from Serbia, are also on the list.

Kosovo's Interior Ministry did not respond to Radio Free Europe's interest in the issue.

From US State Department said this assistance, which is shared by Ukraine, shows the steadfast commitment of the United States “for Ukraine's future as a democratic, sovereign and independent state, as well as for the security of allies and partners throughout the region”

How much help do Ukraine and others receive?

Since the US president's administration, Joe Biden, received the mandate in January 2021, the United States allocated about $15.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, especially in late February, when Russia began its invasion.

On September 8th, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken introduced a new $2.2 billion aid, but besides Ukraine, it will be shared by 17 other countries.

Ukraine, through this programme, known as “Foreign Financing”, will receive a billion dollars, while the rest will be distributed among other countries.

“ [They will] include many of our NATO allies, as well as other regional security partners, who are in potential danger from future Russian aggression”, Blinken said via A statement.

Reuters later broadcast the statement of an American State Department official who said the rest of the money would be shared between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, northern Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The same was confirmed a day later on Twitter by the US mission to NATO.

“You are welcome to help”

The first thing to understand, says Bruno Lete of the German Marshall Fund, headquartered in Brussels, is that there are additional tensions and threats of violence in the Western Balkans. In the eyes of the United States, he says, “very much of the security risks relate to Russia”.

There is a belief that President [rus Vladimir] Putin and Kremlin are playing a role in the region, which is harmful to security. I think there is a desire in the United States, and also in the context of NATO, to increase efforts in the region”, says Lete.

According to him, when it comes to Russian influence in the Western Balkans, “first needs to look at Kosovo and Serbia”, where, as it says, “see tensions, despite a small positive signal” regarding documents.

The two countries have removed special entry/extend documents by the end of last month.

However, it is clear that Russia is simulated tensions between Kosovo and Serbia”, says Lete.

He adds that Russian influence operations are also very active in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where, as expressed, “are trying to fuel political tensions”.

Lette says the war in Ukraine has sparked “the most painful memories of the past” in the Western Balkans and that the inclusion of the United States in most of the region “is welcome”. / REL/