JotBlog

Edward P. Joseph:

I would say this about U.S. policy, which is got, again, brought us to the this spring, President Biden has gotten the Balkans right, consistently. President Biden himself understands the region, and he set off his administration with the words that we are in a challenge of democracy versus autocracy. So President Biden has gotten it right but as the administration has gotten to completely wrong. They've abandoned that.

So we have a disparity in the Balkans where the United States treats Serbia's neighbors to a much harsher, higher standard. And I should point out, we've had two violent confrontations in Kosovo this year. We've had potential issues in Montenegro, which is a NATO ally. And now within the government, there are pro-Russian elements within that NATO ally. And we have a brewing crisis, possibly even beginning this month in Bosnia Herzegovina.

So this is the mistake of the Biden administration has been to treat President Vucic to this different softer standard on the belief that somehow we can bring him over. Instead, what it has done is it has projected fear, the U.S. basically projecting fear of Belgrade, which President Vucic correctly interprets his weakness, and takes advantage. And this all goes of course, to the benefit of his ally, which is Russia.

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