Security concerns are once again mounting in the Western Balkans as shifting European Union migration policies and porous borders revive longstanding vulnerabilities, a regional expert has warned.
Nikola Vujinović, a security analyst, highlighted what he described as a “triple threat” confronting the region: illegal migration, organized crime, and the manipulation of foreign influence narratives.
“The instrumentalisation of these narratives by local elites blurs the line between genuine threats and political messaging,” Vujinović said, warning that internal agendas are increasingly shaping public perception of security.
Straddling key smuggling routes and navigating between EU accession goals and rising geopolitical tensions, the Western Balkans remain a volatile frontline. Analysts say that in such an environment, perception may ultimately wield as much influence as policy.