SECURITY IN THE WESTERN BALKANS AFTER THE START OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE

Security continues to remain a crucial issue in the Western Balkans region, even after the end of inter-ethnic wars and conflicts for nearly two decades. After the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Balkan region, despite the presence of NATO forces in almost all these countries, there is a fear of eventual conflict, and this stems directly from the Russian influence that has had and continues to have in this region. In this regard, given the role that Russia has had, and still has, in the Western Balkans, it is natural to fear the eventual instigation of conflict in this region as well, even more so, when the strong ties between Serbia and Russia are known, as and the continued feeding of its population by nationalisms and hatreds towards other nations in the Western Balkans. However, the presence of NATO, and the role of the states of this region, excluding Serbia, during these months from the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, made us come to the conclusion that the beginning of any eventual conflict in this region is almost impossible. The paper deals with the fear that exists in the countries of the Western Balkans for the beginning of any eventual conflict, the real possibilities for conflicts in this region, the role of the USA and the EU in the Western Balkans after the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, as well as the clarification of state policies of the countries of the Western Balkans in accordance with the Euro-Atlantic future after the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine

Security in the western balkans after the start of Russian aggression in Ukraine

Security continues to remain a crucial issue in the Western Balkans region, even after the end of inter-ethnic wars and conflicts for nearly two decades. After the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Balkan region, despite the presence of NATO forces in almost all these countries, there is a fear of eventual conflict, and this stems directly from the Russian influence that has had and continues to have in this region. In this regard, given the role that Russia has had, and still has, in the Western Balkans, it is natural to fear the eventual instigation of conflict in this region as well, even more so, when the strong ties between Serbia and Russia are known, as and the continued feeding of its population by nationalisms and hatreds towards other nations in the Western Balkans. However, the presence of NATO, and the role of the states of this region, excluding Serbia, during these months from the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, made us come to the conclusion that the beginning of any eventual conflict in this region is almost impossible.&nbsp

Policy-making in the context of security and interethnic relations in the Western Balkans

A special importance in creating security, not only within the state, but also in a wider context, regional and international, is undoubtedly the policy-making. The Balkan region, and in particular the Western Balkans, has been, and continues to be, a hostage of bad policy-making for decades, both in terms of economic development and security within the region. From the provocative policy-making, from the non-separation of the politics of these states, in particular from the Serbian state, from the political mentality of the past, the region continues to be troubled even today. The paper deals precisely with the political mentality, and the lack of political reforms to overcome the provocative policies and the patriarchal political mentality, towards the integration policies of the region in the European Union. A change of political approach, especially in Serbia, is necessary for interethnic reconciliation, and overcoming the long-standing interethnic hatreds that continue to dominate Serbian politics and the region in general. Policy-making in the Western Balkan countries must be changed to accelerate the pace of economic development and integration of the region, otherwise the region will continue to remain under the fever of unrest and uncertainty