NATO has reaffirmed its commitment to stability and security in the Western Balkans, amid growing geopolitical tensions and concerns over increasing Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
Recent high-level visits by senior NATO officials to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo underscored the Alliance’s strategic focus on the region. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Boris Ruge reiterated the Alliance’s enduring role in supporting peace and deterring conflict.
“The Dayton Peace Agreement is the cornerstone of peace in this country and must be respected,” Rutte said during a visit to Sarajevo, warning that inflammatory rhetoric and secessionist moves in Republika Srpska posed a direct threat to Bosnia’s stability.
Security Priorities and Regional Tensions
In a statement following Ruge’s regional consultations, NATO said it remained committed to preventing a security vacuum and emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation. Ruge met with key political figures, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, urging them to de-escalate tensions and adhere to their commitments under international agreements.
“We expect all parties to take responsibility for ensuring stability and progress. Lasting peace requires political courage and compromise,” Ruge said, according to a NATO press release.
NATO also reaffirmed support for the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which has stalled in recent months following violent incidents in northern Kosovo. KFOR, NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, remains the Alliance’s largest and longest-running operation.
“The KFOR mission is crucial for maintaining a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo,” NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah told reporters in Brussels. “Its presence continues to be aligned with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244.”
Arms Build-Up and External Influence
The region has seen a marked increase in arms procurement in recent years. Croatia has acquired French Rafale fighter jets, while Serbia has expanded its military ties with Russia and China, purchasing air defense systems and drones.
Analysts have also raised concerns over emerging bilateral military alignments. A recent cooperation announcement between Hungary and Serbia was portrayed by pro-government Serbian media as a counterbalance to NATO cooperation between Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo. However, defense analysts suggest the Belgrade-Budapest partnership is largely symbolic.
“This is more political theatrics than a functional military alliance,” said Ivana Stradner, a Balkan security expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “There’s neither the capacity nor the political will for open conflict, and elites in the region are too risk-averse to jeopardize their hold on power.”
The U.S. continues to maintain a major presence in Kosovo through Camp Bondsteel, while NATO allies are investing in regional military infrastructure. The Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase in Romania is undergoing significant expansion, and Albania has announced plans to host a new NATO naval base in Porto Romano.
Dialogue as the Only Path Forward
Rutte stressed that NATO remains focused on supporting political solutions, not military confrontation. During his visit, he emphasized the need for constructive engagement by both Kosovo and Serbia, urging both sides to implement existing agreements.
“The only sustainable path to peace is through dialogue. There is no military solution to these disputes,” Rutte said.
NATO has consistently aligned itself with the EU-led normalization process, encouraging flexibility and mutual respect from all parties. Despite recent flare-ups, the Alliance insists that its presence is a stabilizing force aimed at preventing the recurrence of violent conflict.