Berliner Boersenzeitung - Russia's "Alliance" in the Balkans is sinking

EUR -
AED 4.32182
AFN 82.262768
ALL 97.889674
AMD 452.732813
ANG 2.10576
AOA 1078.988694
ARS 1460.811676
AUD 1.808653
AWG 2.120912
AZN 2.00049
BAM 1.955078
BBD 2.377293
BDT 144.426666
BGN 1.953881
BHD 0.443514
BIF 3507.653733
BMD 1.17665
BND 1.49951
BOB 8.135996
BRL 6.379682
BSD 1.177415
BTN 100.482455
BWP 15.595169
BYN 3.853026
BYR 23062.349449
BZD 2.364987
CAD 1.604381
CDF 3394.63644
CHF 0.935318
CLF 0.028529
CLP 1094.790994
CNY 8.431175
CNH 8.439702
COP 4697.953547
CRC 594.605689
CUC 1.17665
CUP 31.181238
CVE 110.224296
CZK 24.644916
DJF 209.664157
DKK 7.461411
DOP 70.466972
DZD 152.223964
EGP 58.071582
ERN 17.649757
ETB 163.405301
FJD 2.644228
FKP 0.86208
GBP 0.864073
GEL 3.200704
GGP 0.86208
GHS 12.1855
GIP 0.86208
GMD 84.134958
GNF 10211.619549
GTQ 9.052657
GYD 246.319038
HKD 9.236606
HNL 30.761947
HRK 7.531266
HTG 154.589482
HUF 399.193377
IDR 19104.332557
ILS 3.935696
IMP 0.86208
INR 100.876837
IQD 1542.350097
IRR 49566.401414
ISK 142.398592
JEP 0.86208
JMD 187.92699
JOD 0.834256
JPY 170.717276
KES 152.020778
KGS 102.89788
KHR 4730.454134
KMF 491.840015
KPW 1058.985622
KRW 1608.73416
KWD 0.359055
KYD 0.98125
KZT 611.461992
LAK 25370.954349
LBP 105492.188268
LKR 353.244056
LRD 236.068842
LSL 20.710516
LTL 3.474343
LVL 0.711744
LYD 6.342008
MAD 10.567598
MDL 19.832929
MGA 5298.268577
MKD 61.537902
MMK 2470.426162
MNT 4216.645015
MOP 9.519606
MRU 46.730729
MUR 52.890159
MVR 18.121555
MWK 2041.715435
MXN 21.948944
MYR 4.983096
MZN 75.258156
NAD 20.710516
NGN 1801.326978
NIO 43.325657
NOK 11.876216
NPR 160.77446
NZD 1.957611
OMR 0.452406
PAB 1.17737
PEN 4.174858
PGK 4.86339
PHP 66.61609
PKR 334.240855
PLN 4.244543
PYG 9383.053325
QAR 4.303111
RON 5.057478
RSD 117.184932
RUB 92.830315
RWF 1692.532513
SAR 4.411366
SBD 9.809646
SCR 16.58551
SDG 706.577172
SEK 11.255897
SGD 1.502106
SHP 0.924663
SLE 26.415732
SLL 24673.776596
SOS 672.874393
SRD 43.989059
STD 24354.289331
SVC 10.302327
SYP 15298.723108
SZL 20.695589
THB 38.335862
TJS 11.449918
TMT 4.130043
TND 3.430333
TOP 2.755837
TRY 47.026364
TTD 7.985153
TWD 34.147593
TZS 3107.45741
UAH 49.103536
UGX 4223.440352
USD 1.17665
UYU 47.25255
UZS 14784.79152
VES 128.81205
VND 30767.056806
VUV 139.348855
WST 3.049888
XAF 655.737139
XAG 0.032118
XAU 0.000355
XCD 3.179957
XDR 0.815533
XOF 655.751066
XPF 119.331742
YER 284.925921
ZAR 20.832814
ZMK 10591.263284
ZMW 28.522194
ZWL 378.880975
  • CMSC

    0.0900

    22.314

    +0.4%

  • CMSD

    0.0250

    22.285

    +0.11%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    69.04

    0%

  • SCS

    0.0400

    10.74

    +0.37%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    53

    +0.06%

  • RIO

    -0.1400

    59.33

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.1300

    41.45

    +0.31%

  • NGG

    0.2700

    71.48

    +0.38%

  • BP

    0.1750

    30.4

    +0.58%

  • BTI

    0.7150

    48.215

    +1.48%

  • BCC

    0.7900

    91.02

    +0.87%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    9.85

    +0.1%

  • BCE

    -0.0600

    22.445

    -0.27%

  • RYCEF

    0.1000

    12

    +0.83%

  • AZN

    -0.1200

    73.71

    -0.16%


Russia's "Alliance" in the Balkans is sinking




Over the past decade, Russia has prided itself on maintaining strong relationships with several Balkan nations. This bond, often rooted in shared Slavic heritage, Orthodox Christian traditions, and historical ties, was once perceived as a strategic platform for Moscow to expand its influence in Southeast Europe. Yet recent developments suggest that Russia’s alliance in the Balkans is beginning to unravel, leaving the Kremlin facing new diplomatic challenges in a region long considered sympathetic to its interests.

Eroding Political Influence
Serbia has historically been Russia’s most steadfast partner in the Balkans, buoyed by a sense of cultural kinship and mutual geopolitical interests. However, Belgrade has gradually moved closer to the European Union, seeking membership and deepening economic cooperation with Western nations. While Serbia has not openly broken away from Russia, analysts point to its growing emphasis on European integration as a signal that Belgrade may be distancing itself from Moscow’s orbit.

Montenegro, once firmly in Russia’s sphere of influence, joined NATO in 2017. This move was seen by many as a major blow to the Kremlin’s strategic goals in Southeast Europe, undermining the perception that the region was decidedly pro-Russian. The country’s pivot toward Western defense structures continues to stand as a stark reminder that Kremlin-friendly governments can rapidly realign when broader interests are at stake.

Economic Factors and Energy Ties
One of Moscow’s most effective levers of power in the Balkans had been its role as a key energy supplier. Gas agreements and oil contracts bolstered Russia’s foothold, offering local governments reliable—if sometimes politically fraught—access to affordable energy. Yet Europe’s ongoing efforts to diversify its energy supply and reduce dependence on Russian resources have started to weaken Moscow’s sway.

In Serbia, plans to link up with alternative pipelines from neighboring countries could mitigate Russia’s longstanding energy dominance. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina, another state traditionally viewed as within Russia’s sphere, is actively discussing more diversified energy routes. These shifts dilute Russian economic clout and further complicate Moscow’s capacity to maintain a strong presence in the region.

Shifting Public Opinion
While Russia has long relied on cultural diplomacy to foster goodwill among Balkan citizens, recent surveys suggest a notable shift in public sentiment. The economic and social benefits of closer ties with the European Union—such as access to scholarships, visa-free travel, and foreign direct investment—have made many Balkan citizens view Brussels as a more appealing partner than Moscow.

Moreover, Russia’s military actions on other fronts have prompted anxiety among certain Balkan populations who fear that aligning with Moscow could strain relationships with the West and hinder their own EU accession hopes. In societies where European integration is a near-universal aspiration, it is becoming increasingly challenging for pro-Russian narratives to maintain broad popular support.

Geopolitical Ramifications
Russia’s diminishing influence in the Balkans highlights a broader global trend: competing blocs vying for regional sway, with the EU, NATO, and other Western entities making decisive inroads. For the Kremlin, losing ground in Southeast Europe carries political and strategic consequences that ripple beyond the region. By the same token, Balkan states searching for reliable alliances may shift even more decisively toward Western institutions.

Diplomatic experts note that unless Russia reevaluates its strategy—perhaps by offering new forms of economic or security cooperation—it risks being sidelined in a part of Europe it once considered a reliable staging ground for extending its influence.

Conclusion
As Serbia edges closer to EU membership, Montenegro cements its position in NATO, and other Balkan countries explore alternative partnerships, the solid ties that once bound the region to Moscow are fraying. Historical and cultural connections remain, but for many Balkan governments, the imperatives of economic development and European integration are taking precedence over maintaining a robust alliance with Russia. Unless Moscow adapts its approach, it may find its influence in Southeast Europe reduced to a shadow of its former strength, marking the end of an era in Balkan geopolitics.